Sections
Chigau (違う): what it means in anime
違う
ちがう · chigau · to differ; to be different; to be distinct JLPT N5
Chigau means "to be different", but in conversation it is simply "no" or "that's wrong". 違う！ is how characters deny an accusation, and 違うよ is a softer "no, that's not it".
Where you hear it 23 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
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Demon Slayer · 13 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
違うのかもしれないdifferent from others.
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My Hero Academia · 11 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
えいっ… 以前とは 違うんだI'm different from before!
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Tokyo Ghoul · 11 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
ご… ごめんなさい ほかのみんなと全然違うからI'm sorry. You're completely different from everyone else.
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Code Geass · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
違ったんだI was wrong.
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Haikyu!! · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
何が“去年とは違う”だ ふざけんなWhat's different from last year?
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The Promised Neverland · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
体の大きさ？ 違うBody size? different
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Horimiya · 9 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
ち 違うんだ… けど…What is it? Did I do something wrong?
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Noragami · 8 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
ぶぶ 名前が違いますBubu, the name is different.
Also in: The Promised Neverland, Horimiya, Re:Zero, Noragami, NANA, Polar Bear Café, Frieren, Assassination Classroom, Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, Chainsaw Man, K-On!, One-Punch Man, Dr. Stone.
Usage and nuance
Japanese does not use いいえ (iie) much in speech. 違う is the natural way to say "no, you've got it wrong", which is why it appears in 23 of the series on this site, more than almost any other verb.
Other forms: 違います is polite, 違うか？ is "am I wrong?", 違いない is "no doubt". The noun 違い (chigai) is "difference".
Watch for 全然違う, "completely different" or "totally wrong", a favourite of annoyed characters.
Hear 違う in Demon Slayer13 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account