JLPT N2 reference · Evidentiality and judgment
に違いない
It expresses a strong evidence-based conviction: the speaker concludes that something must be true.
Core meaning and form
Attach に違いない to a plain clause; omit だ after nouns and な-adjectives. It is stronger than だろう but still represents inference rather than direct knowledge.
- Form: Attach に違いない to a plain clause; omit だ after nouns and な-adjectives.
- Core use: It expresses a strong evidence-based conviction: the speaker concludes that something must be true.
- Context: It is stronger than だろう but still represents inference rather than direct knowledge.
Examples in context
電気がついている。彼は家にいるに違いない。Denki ga tsuite iru. Kare wa ie ni iru ni chigai nai.The light is on. He must be home.
これは何かの間違いに違いない。Kore wa nanika no machigai ni chigai nai.This must be some kind of mistake.
彼女なら成功するに違いありません。Kanojo nara seikō suru ni chigai arimasen.She is certain to succeed.
Common errors
- Do not select this pattern from an English translation alone; check its attachment and discourse function.
- Keep the surrounding sentence in a consistent plain, polite, spoken, or written register.
Quick summary
- Attach に違いない to a plain clause; omit だ after nouns and な-adjectives.
- It expresses a strong evidence-based conviction: the speaker concludes that something must be true.
- It is stronger than だろう but still represents inference rather than direct knowledge.