Translation guide
The English verb "mix" covers combining substances, socializing, and audio production. Japanese uses different verbs for each context.
To combine two or more substances so that they become a single substance.
General transitive verb for mixing ingredients, liquids, etc. Used in cooking and everyday contexts.
小麦粉と卵を混ぜる。
Mix flour and eggs.
絵の具を混ぜて新しい色を作る。
Mix paints to create a new color.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be mixed' or 'to blend'. Used when substances combine on their own or the result is emphasized.
油と水は混ざらない。
Oil and water don't mix.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be mixed in with' or 'to be included as an ingredient'. Often used when something is added to a larger whole.
髪に白いものが混じっている。
There are some white hairs mixed in with my hair.
Emphasizes thorough mixing or blending of multiple ingredients. Slightly more formal or technical.
材料をよく混ぜ合わせてください。
Please mix the ingredients well.
To stir or mix by agitating, often with a spoon or stick. Used for stirring liquids or batters.
スープをかき混ぜる。
Stir the soup.
To meet and talk to different people at a social event.
To interact or socialize, often in a formal or organized context. Implies exchanging ideas or building relationships.
パーティーでいろいろな人と交流した。
I mixed with various people at the party.
To associate or mingle with people. Can be used in both casual and formal settings.
彼はあまり人と交わらない。
He doesn't mix with people much.
To socialize or keep company with someone. Often implies a closer relationship or regular interaction.
In casual speech, 混ざる can be used to mean 'join in' or 'mingle' with a group, but it's less common than the above options.
みんなの中に混ざって遊ぶ。
Mix in with everyone and play.
To combine multiple audio tracks into a single track, especially in music production.
Loanword from English, widely used in music and audio contexts. Functions as a suru-verb.
曲をミックスする。
Mix a song.
Can be used for audio mixing in a general sense, but ミックスする is more common in professional contexts.
ボーカルと伴奏を混ぜる。
Mix the vocals and accompaniment.
To confuse one thing with another, or to fail to distinguish.
To confuse or mix up two things in one's mind. Formal and precise.
似た言葉を混同しやすい。
It's easy to mix up similar words.
General verb for making a mistake or mixing up. More casual than 混同する.
彼と弟を間違えた。
I mixed him up with his younger brother.
To become jumbled or mixed up in a disorderly way. Often used for thoughts or objects.
頭の中がごちゃごちゃになっている。
My thoughts are all mixed up.
混ぜる (transitive) is for actively mixing things. 混ざる (intransitive) is for things becoming mixed, often homogeneously. 混じる (intransitive) is for something being mixed into a larger whole, often remaining distinguishable. Example: 絵の具を混ぜる (mix paints), 絵の具が混ざる (paints get mixed), 髪に白髪が混じる (white hairs are mixed in with the hair).
While 混ざる can be used metaphorically for joining a group, 混ぜる is not used for social mixing. Use 交流する or 付き合う instead.
It's important to mix with your neighbors.