Japanese word

間違い

Pronunciation

Romajimachigai

Meaning

  • nounmistake

Example

間違いを直します。ma chiga i o nao shi ma su

I will correct the mistake.

Illustration for 間違い (mistake)

More examples

私は自分の間違いに気づきました。watashi wa ji bun no ma chiga i ni ki zu ki ma shi ta

I noticed my mistake.

Core concept

It marks a judgment, answer, or action as not matching what is correct or intended.

Common phrases

  • 間違いを直すma chiga i o nao su

    correct a mistake

  • 間違いに気づくma chiga i ni ki zu ku

    notice a mistake

  • 大きな間違いō ki na ma chiga i

    a serious mistake

Similar words

ミスmisu: A casual term for an incorrect judgment, action, or result.
勘違いkanchigai: An incorrect understanding of a person, fact, or situation.

Definition in Japanese

正しい状態や判断、事実などと異なること。tada shi i jō tai ya han dan ji jitsu na do to koto na ru ko to

Word origin

間違い (machigai) is the noun form of 間違う (machigau, "to be mistaken"), formed from the verb's continuative form.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 間違いです (machigai desu) identifies an answer as wrong, while 間違えました (machigaemashita) says that the speaker made a mistake.

Other meanings

  • errornoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word