Japanese word

犯す

Pronunciation

Romajiokasu

Meaning

  • verbmake a mistake

Example

私は時々間違いを犯します。watashi wa toki doki ma chiga i o oka shi ma su

I sometimes make mistakes.

Illustration for 犯す (make a mistake)

More examples

急いでいると、誰でも間違いを犯します。iso i de i ru to dare de mo ma chiga i o oka shi ma su

Anyone can make a mistake when they are in a hurry.

Core concept

Means crossing a boundary of correctness or permission through an error or a wrongful act.

Common phrases

  • 間違いを犯すma chiga i o oka su

    make a mistake

  • 過ちを犯すayama chi o oka su

    make a mistake

Similar words

間違えるmachigaeru: To make an error by doing something incorrectly.
誤るayamaru: To make a wrong decision or take an improper action.

Definition in Japanese

正しくないことや、規則・法律に反することをすること。tada shi ku na i ko to ya ki soku hō ritsu ni han su ru ko to o su ru ko to

Word origin

The native verb 犯す (okasu) has no certain recorded explanation for its earlier formation, while 犯 (han, "violate") is the kanji conventionally chosen to represent its sense of wrongdoing.

Usage tips

  • 犯す (okasu) commonly takes an abstract noun as its object, linking the verb to errors, violations, and other actions rather than to physical objects.

Other meanings

  • commit a crimeverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word