Translation guide
The concept of a mismatch—when two or more things do not fit, correspond, or harmonize—can be expressed in Japanese through nouns, verbs, and adjectives that emphasize incompatibility, discrepancy, or unsuitability. The most common and versatile term is ミスマッチ, a loanword from English, but native Japanese expressions like 不一致 and 不釣り合い are also frequently used depending on the context.
Expressing that two things do not go well together or are not suitable for each other, in a broad sense.
A direct loanword from English, widely used in both casual and formal contexts to describe a mismatch in various domains such as fashion, relationships, skills and jobs, or design.
That outfit combination is a mismatch.
There is a mismatch between his abilities and the job content.
A formal noun meaning 'disagreement' or 'discrepancy'. Often used in technical, business, or academic contexts to indicate a lack of alignment between data, opinions, or conditions.
A mismatch was found in the data.
There is a mismatch between their opinions.
Describes a lack of balance or proportion, often implying that one thing is too good or too poor for the other. Commonly used for relationships, marriages, or pairings where there is an imbalance in status, appearance, or quality.
That couple is mismatched.
The negative form of 合う (to fit/match), meaning 'does not fit' or 'is not suitable'. A very common and versatile verb used in everyday speech for any kind of mismatch.
These shoes don't fit my feet (are a mismatch).
My personality doesn't match his (we are mismatched).
Specifically describing two people who are not well-suited as a couple or partners.
When something does not meet expectations or there is a gap between what was hoped for and what actually is.
Loanword meaning 'gap' or 'discrepancy'. Often used to describe a mismatch between image and reality, or between different aspects of something.
There is a mismatch between his usual self and his stage persona.
I was surprised by the mismatch between expectations and reality.
A noun meaning 'gap', 'discrepancy', or 'deviation'. Often used for subtle mismatches in perception, timing, or understanding.
Used in computing, engineering, or formal analysis when components, data types, or specifications do not align.
ミスマッチ is the most versatile and commonly used in everyday language for any kind of mismatch. 不一致 is formal and often used for data, opinions, or technical discrepancies. 不釣り合い implies an imbalance in quality or status, often with a negative judgment about suitability, especially in relationships or pairings.
a clothing mismatch (casual)
a mismatch of opinions (formal)
a love affair mismatched in social status
Do not use 間違い (mistake/error) to translate 'mismatch'. 間違い implies an error or something incorrect, whereas a mismatch is about incompatibility or lack of fit, not necessarily a mistake.
His salary is a mismatch for his skills.
From the outside, those two are mismatched.
認識のずれを修正する必要がある。
We need to correct the mismatch in perception.
バージョンの不一致が問題を引き起こした。
A version mismatch caused the problem.
スキルと仕事のミスマッチが生産性を下げる。
A mismatch between skills and job lowers productivity.