Japanese word

錯覚

Pronunciation

Romajisakkaku

Meaning

  • nounillusion

Example

これは目の錯覚です。ko re wa me no sak kaku de su

This is an optical illusion.

Illustration for 錯覚 (illusion)

More examples

説明を急いで読むと、内容を理解したという錯覚を抱くことがあります。setsu mei o iso i de yo mu to nai yō o ri kai shi ta to i u sak kaku o ida ku ko to ga a ri ma su

If you read an explanation too quickly, you may mistakenly think you understand it.

Core concept

錯覚 (sakkaku) presents a perception or belief that feels real even though it differs from reality.

Common phrases

  • 目の錯覚me no sak kaku

    optical illusion

  • 錯覚に陥るsak kaku ni ochii ru

    fall for an illusion

  • 錯覚を抱くsak kaku o ida ku

    harbor an illusion

  • 錯覚を起こすsak kaku o o ko su

    produce an illusion

Similar words

見間違いmimachigai: A visual misperception that causes one thing to be seen as another.
思い込みomoikomi: A firmly held belief accepted without enough evidence.
勘違いkanchigai: A mistaken assumption about a fact, situation, or person's meaning.
誤認gonin: A mistaken identification or understanding of a person, object, or fact.

Definition in Japanese

実際とは異なるものを、見たり感じたりして事実だと思うこと。jis sai to wa koto na ru mo no o mi ta ri kan ji ta ri shi te ji jitsu da to omo u ko to

Word origin

錯覚 (sakkaku) combines 錯 (saku, "confuse") and 覚 (kaku, "perceive"), expressing a mistaken perception.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese conversation, 錯覚 (sakkaku) can describe both a visual illusion and a mistaken belief, so context determines the meaning.

Other meanings

  • misconceptionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 錯覚するsakkakusurumistakeverb

Word lists with this word