Translation guide
How to express that an action was performed incorrectly, made a mistake, or got something wrong in Japanese.
General expression for doing something incorrectly or making an error.
The most common and versatile verb for 'to make a mistake' or 'to do incorrectly'. Transitive; takes the thing mistaken as object.
Intransitive counterpart of 間違える. Often used when the subject itself is wrong or mistaken, or in set phrases.
The answer is wrong.
To make a mistake (from English 'miss'). Common in casual and business contexts.
I made a mistake at work.
To fail; to mess up. Implies a more significant failure than a simple mistake.
The experiment failed.
Describing that an action was performed in an incorrect manner.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'do ~ the wrong way'.
I pressed the button the wrong way.
I wrote the kanji incorrectly.
Use a negative form with ちゃんと or きちんと to imply not doing something properly/correctly.
I didn't explain it properly.
Doing something incorrectly due to misunderstanding.
Specifically making an error in writing or speaking.
間違える is transitive and focuses on the act of mistaking something. 間違う is intransitive and often describes a state of being wrong. In casual speech, 間違う is sometimes used transitively, but 間違える is preferred in standard Japanese.
I took the wrong road.
I took the wrong road. (casual)