Japanese word

勘違い

Pronunciation

Romajikanchigai

Meaning

  • nounmisunderstanding

Example

時間を勘違いしていました。ji kan o kan chiga i shi te i ma shi ta

I misunderstood the time.

Illustration for 勘違い (misunderstanding)

More examples

私は彼を先生だと勘違いしました。watashi wa kare o sen sei da to kan chiga i shi ma shi ta

I mistook him for a teacher.

Core concept

Centers on holding an incorrect understanding of a fact, situation, or detail.

Common phrases

  • 時間を勘違いするji kan o kan chiga i su ru

    misunderstand the time

  • 単なる勘違いtan na ru kan chiga i

    mere misunderstanding

  • 勘違いを認めるkan chiga i o mito me ru

    admit a misunderstanding

Similar words

思い違いomoichigai: A mistaken belief that a fact or situation is different from what it really is.
誤解gokai: A mistaken understanding of someone's words, meaning, or intentions.
取り違えtorichigae: A mistake in identifying one person, thing, or detail as another.
思い込みomoikomi: A firm belief accepted without checking whether it is correct.

Definition in Japanese

人や物事について、事実とは異なる理解をすること。hito ya mono goto ni tsu i te ji jitsu to wa koto na ru ri kai o su ru ko to

Word origin

勘 (kan, "intuition or sense") combines with 違い (chigai, "difference") to form a noun for a mistaken judgment.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, misunderstanding often suggests a communication problem, while the Japanese noun also covers getting a fact such as a time wrong.

Other meanings

  • mistakenoun

Word lists with this word