Translation guide
The English phrase "get mixed up" can mean becoming confused, being involved in something negative, or things becoming disordered. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese equivalents.
Express that someone confuses one thing with another, or becomes mentally confused.
To confuse one thing with another; to mix up two things in one's mind.
彼はよく似た漢字を混同する。
He often gets similar kanji mixed up.
To mistake one thing for another; to get something wrong.
すみません、人を間違えました。
Sorry, I got you mixed up with someone else.
To get jumbled or mixed up in one's mind; casual.
説明が多くて頭がごっちゃになった。
There were so many explanations that I got mixed up.
To be confused or disordered mentally; more formal.
突然の変更でスケジュールが混乱した。
My schedule got mixed up due to the sudden change.
Express that someone gets involved in trouble, a bad situation, or with the wrong people.
To be caught up or embroiled in something, often against one's will.
彼は事件に巻き込まれた。
He got mixed up in the incident.
To be involved with something, often with a negative connotation when used with 悪い.
悪い仲間と関わると、ろくなことにならない。
If you get mixed up with bad company, nothing good will come of it.
To get involved in something, often implying meddling or starting something risky.
Express that objects, plans, or information become mixed up or out of order.
For things to get mixed together, often physically.
洗濯で色が混ざってしまった。
The colors got mixed up in the wash.
To become messy, jumbled, or disorganized.
書類がごちゃごちゃになって、必要なものが見つからない。
The documents got mixed up and I can't find what I need.
To be intermingled or mixed together, often for abstract things.
Do not directly translate 'get mixed up' as 混ざる in all contexts. For confusion, use 混同する or 間違える; for involvement in trouble, use 巻き込まれる.
I got mixed up in that business and failed.
喜びと悲しみが入り混じった気持ちだ。
I have mixed feelings of joy and sadness.