“〜to wa chigatte・to kotonari”: Unlike / Different From 〜 [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Highlighting contrast and difference

「姉とは違って、妹はおとなしい」 — 「とは違って・と異なり」, unlike ~, different from ~

「姉とは違って、妹はとてもおとなしい」 (unlike her older sister, the younger sister is very quiet) — 「noun ＋ とは違って／と異なり」 means “different from ~, (the second clause) is …”: taking the first as a contrast to highlight the second's difference, contrast. This guide covers 「とは違って／と異なり」's attachment, that “set up a contrast, then highlight the difference” feel, and separates it from 「に比べて (comparing degree)／に対して (contrast)」.

Core: set up a contrast, then highlight the difference

The core of 「とは違って・と異なり」 is “contrastive highlighting” — first point out a reference (older sister, expectation, the city), then explain how the second is different:

• Contrasting people/things: 兄とは違って、弟は活発だ (unlike his older brother, the younger is lively).
• Different from expectation (a gap): 予想とは違って、結果はよかった (contrary to expectation, the result was good).
• と異なり (written): 都会と異なり、田舎は静かだ (unlike the city, the countryside is quiet).

Feel: “not like ~ (that way), (the second) is …” — using a contrast to highlight difference, a gap.

How to Connect

See it in context

• 姉とは違って、妹はとてもおとなしい。(Unlike her sister, the younger sister is very quiet.) — contrasting people
• 昔とは違って、今はスマホで何でも調べられる。(Unlike the past, now you can look up anything on your phone.) — then vs now
• 予想とは違って、テストは簡単だった。(Contrary to expectation, the test was easy.) — a gap
• 都会と異なり、田舎は物価が安い。(Unlike the city, the countryside has low prices.) — written contrast
• 他の店とは違って、この店は日曜も営業している。(Unlike other shops, this one is open on Sundays too.) — contrast

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① The particle is 「と」, not 「を／に」. ✗ 兄をとは違って, ✗ 姉に違って → ✓ 兄とは違って, 姉とは違って. The counterpart of 「違う」 takes 「と」 (different from …); misusing 「に」 by analogy with 「に比べて／に対して」 is a common error. Remember: 〜と違う (different from …).

② 「とは違って」 (difference) vs 「に比べて」 (comparing degree). とは違って = ‘different from' ~ (stressing a ‘difference/contrast in nature/kind') (姉とは違って妹はおとなしい = unlike her sister, she's quiet — a difference in character); に比べて = ‘compared to' ~ (stressing a ‘comparison of degree/quantity,' often a difference in degree) (去年に比べて、今年は暑い = compared to last year, this year is hotter). とは違って is “different (in quality),” に比べて is “compared (higher/lower in degree/quantity).”

③ 「と異なり」 is more written, 「と違って」 more colloquial. と異なり／と異なって = more written, formal (papers, reporting: 従来と異なり); とは違って／と違って = works in speech and writing (everyday: 姉とは違って). In speech the 「は」 is often dropped, and 「と違って」 alone is natural (兄と違って). For formal writing use と異なり, everyday use とは違って.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: とは違って／に比べて／に対して／と同じく

💡 Quick takeaway

The core of 「とは違って・と異なり」 is “set up a contrast, then highlight the second's difference/gap” — 姉とは違って妹はおとなしい (unlike her sister, she's quiet), 予想とは違って結果はよかった (contrary to expectation, the result was good), 都会と異なり田舎は静か (unlike the city, the countryside is quiet). It takes the first as a reference to highlight “the second is different,” handy for describing differences, contrasts, and the unexpected. Three points: ① the particle is 「と」 (✗ を／に, it's 「〜と違う」); ② separate it from 「に比べて」 — とは違って is “a difference in quality (unlike),” に比べて is “a comparison of degree/quantity (more … than)”; ③ register — と異なり is more written, とは違って works in both (colloquially 「は」 often dropped to 「と違って」). To highlight the contrast of “unlike ~,” とは違って is spot-on.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「とは違って」 from 「に比べて」?

By “a difference in quality (unlike)” vs “a comparison of degree/quantity (more … than).” 「とは違って」 = ‘different from' ~ (stressing a ‘difference, contrast' in nature, kind, or state — it's ‘different,' not ‘more/less'): 兄とは違って、弟は無口だ (unlike his brother, the younger is taciturn — a difference in character), 以前とは違って、今は在宅勤務が普通だ (unlike before, remote work is normal now — a difference in state), マニュアルとは違って、現場は複雑だ (unlike the manual, the field is complex — a gap). It says “A is different from B (in some respect).” 「に比べて」 = ‘compared to' ~ (stressing the level/amount in degree or quantity — ‘more … by comparison'): 去年に比べて、今年は売上が伸びた (compared to last year, sales grew — a quantity comparison), 都会に比べて、田舎は家賃が安い (compared to the city, rural rent is cheaper — a degree comparison), 兄に比べて、弟は背が高い (compared to his brother, the younger is taller — degree). It says “A is more … than B (in degree/quantity).” So: “different from ~ (a difference in quality)” → とは違って; “more … than ~ (degree/quantity)” → に比べて. 「姉とは違って妹はおとなしい」 = the younger sister is different from the older (in character — quality); 「姉に比べて妹は背が低い」 = the younger is shorter than the older (in height — quantity/degree). One is about “difference,” the other “higher/lower by comparison.”

Q: What's the difference between 「とは違って」, 「と違って」, and 「と異なり」?

Same meaning (all “different from ~”), differing by presence of 「は」 and register. 「とは違って」 = the standard form, works in speech and writing (the 「は」 slightly stresses the contrast): 親とは違って、子供は物おじしない (unlike the parents, the child isn't shy). 「と違って」 = with 「は」 dropped, more colloquial, more casual (same meaning, just omitted): 兄と違って、俺は運動が苦手だ (unlike my brother, I'm bad at sports — colloquial). In speech 「は」 is often dropped, and 「と違って」 is perfectly natural. 「と異なり／と異なって」 = more written, formal (common in papers, reporting, expository writing): 従来のモデルと異なり、新型は燃費がいい (unlike the previous model, the new one is fuel-efficient — written), 規定と異なる場合は… (in cases differing from the regulations… — formal). So: everyday speech → と違って (は dropped) or とは違って; formal writing → と異なり. The three are register/tone variants of the same meaning; formality: と異なり ＞ とは違って ＞ と違って (most colloquial).

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「姉___、妹はおとなしい。」(Unlike the older sister, the younger sister is quiet)

(A) とは違って　(B) のために　(C) によって　(D) について

Q2. 「予想___、結果はよかった。」(Contrary to expectations)

(A) とは違って　(B) のおかげで　(C) に応じて　(D) にとって

Q3. 「都会と異なり、田舎は静かだ」の意味は?

(A) Unlike the city, the countryside is quiet (contrast)

(B) The city and countryside are the same

(C) The countryside is noisier than the city

(D) Unrelated to the city

Q4. 「と異なり」の文体は?

(A) Written style (colloquially, とは違って is more common)

(B) Children's language

(C) Internet slang

(D) Imperative language

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 兄とは違って優しい。　(B) 兄をとは違って。

(C) 兄とは違ってのに。　(D) 兄に違っての。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) とは違って ── Unlike the older sister (contrast).

2. (A) とは違って ── Contrary to expectations.

3. (A) ── Unlike the city, the countryside is quiet.

4. (A) ── と異なり is written style.

5. (A) ── 「名詞＋とは違って」 is correct.