Translation guide
How to express the idea of writing something incorrectly in Japanese, covering mistakes in characters, words, and transcription.
The speaker made a mistake while writing a character or word, such as a kanji stroke error, wrong kana, or misspelling.
The speaker incorrectly copied or transcribed something, such as from a board or document.
Specifically for miswriting when copying or transcribing. Combines 写す (copy) and 間違える (make a mistake).
黒板の文字を写し間違えた。
I miswrote the characters from the blackboard.
The speaker wrote incorrect information, not just a character mistake, but the wrong word or fact.
A natural way to say 'write something wrong' when the content itself is incorrect.
レポートに間違ったことを書いてしまった。
I wrote something wrong in the report.
Both mean 'miswrite', but 書き間違える is a single compound verb and more concise. 間違えて書く is a phrase that can be used when you want to emphasize the mistake aspect or when the object is long.
漢字を書き間違えた。
I miswrote the kanji.
漢字を間違えて書いた。
I wrote the kanji incorrectly.
The English loanword 'miswrite' is not used in Japanese. Always use native verbs or phrases.
The most common and general verb for 'miswrite'. Used for any writing mistake, including kanji, kana, or spelling.
漢字を書き間違えた。
I miswrote the kanji.
名前を書き間違えてしまった。
I accidentally miswrote the name.
A slightly more formal or literary synonym for 書き間違える. Often used in written contexts.
住所を書き誤りました。
I miswrote the address.
A transparent phrase meaning 'write mistakenly'. Less compact than 書き間違える but equally natural.
うっかり間違えて書いてしまった。
I carelessly miswrote it.
I miswrote the numbers and the calculation didn't match.
Emphasizes both writing and copying. Slightly redundant but clear.
資料を書き写し間違えて、後で直した。
I miswrote the document when copying and corrected it later.
Means to make a mistake in writing, often implying a slip of the pen or a blunder. Less common in everyday speech.
契約書の日付を書き損じた。
I miswrote the date on the contract.