Translation guide
Describes something obscured or softened by mist, or metaphorically unclear, vague, or emotional. Japanese uses different words for literal misty weather, blurred vision, and hazy memories.
Describing weather or a scene with mist, fog, or haze.
Literally 'mist is hanging over'. The most common way to say a place or view is misty.
This morning the mountains were misty and looked really magical.
Uses 'もや' (haze) instead of '霧'. Often implies a thinner, more widespread mistiness, like morning haze over a city.
The distant buildings were misty and the view was blurry.
Verb/adjective meaning 'hazy' or 'misty'. Often used for distant landscapes or spring haze.
In the misty spring air, the distant mountains looked faint.
Describing eyes or vision that is blurred, often from tears or emotion.
Describing memories or thoughts that are vague, unclear, or hazy.
General word for 'vague', 'dim', or 'hazy'. Works for memories, outlines, or consciousness.
My childhood memories are misty.
Means 'dim', 'hazy', or 'obscure'. Often used for memories or dreams. Slightly literary.
Describing a surface like glass or a mirror that is fogged up or steamy.
Means 'cloudy' or 'fogged up'. Used for mirrors, windows, glasses. Not for weather mist.
After the bath, the mirror was misty and I couldn't see my face.
霧 (きり) is fog/mist that reduces visibility to less than 1 km. もや is haze with visibility over 1 km. 霞 (かすみ) is a poetic term for spring haze. For 'misty weather', 霧がかかった is the safest choice.
I can't see ahead because of the mist.
Spring haze trails across the sky.
The katakana word ミスティ is not commonly used in Japanese. It might appear in product names or as a foreign loanword, but it's not natural for describing weather or emotions.
Her eyes grew misty and her voice trembled.
I searched for an old friend following my misty memories.