Japanese word

誤る

Pronunciation

Romajiayamaru

Meaning

  • verbmake a mistake

Example

人は時々判断を誤ります。hito wa toki doki han dan o ayama ri ma su

People sometimes make the wrong decision.

Illustration for 誤る (make a mistake)

More examples

急いで答えると、計算を誤ることがあります。iso i de kota e ru to kei san o ayama ru ko to ga a ri ma su

You may make a mistake in your calculations if you answer too quickly.

Core concept

Describes making an incorrect choice or action because one's judgment does not match the facts.

Common phrases

  • 判断を誤るhan dan o ayama ru

    misjudge

  • 選択を誤るsen taku o ayama ru

    make the wrong choice

  • 計算を誤るkei san o ayama ru

    miscalculate

Similar words

間違えるmachigaeru: To make a mistake in a choice, judgment, or action.
間違うmachigau: To be wrong about a choice, judgment, or action.

Definition in Japanese

判断や行動を間違え、望ましくない結果を招く。han dan ya kō dō o ma chiga e nozo ma shi ku na i kek ka o mane ku

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 誤る (ayamaru, "to make a mistake") forms the noun 誤り (ayamari, "error") from its continuative stem, a common Japanese noun-forming pattern.

Usage tips

  • In formal Japanese, 誤る (ayamaru) often means to make a mistake or misjudge something, whereas casual speech more often uses 間違える (machigaeru).

Other meanings

  • misjudgeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word