Translation guide
The English word "mixed" covers a range of situations from combining things together to having conflicting feelings. This guide organizes the main uses and provides natural Japanese expressions for each.
Describing something made by combining different elements, such as ingredients, groups, or types.
The past tense of 混ざる (intransitive), meaning 'mixed' or 'blended'. Used when things are combined together, often for substances or abstract things.
paint with various colors mixed together
This salad has various vegetables mixed in.
The past tense of 混ぜる (transitive), meaning 'mixed' as a result of someone's action. Use when emphasizing the act of mixing.
dough made by mixing flour and eggs
A more formal or technical term meaning 'mixed' or 'blended', often used in compound nouns like 混合燃料 (mixed fuel).
mixed gasoline
Describing a group or collection containing different kinds of people or things.
Means 'various' or 'diverse'. A common and natural way to say a group is mixed in terms of types.
Various opinions were expressed.
This class has students of various nationalities.
A more casual and common word for 'various' or 'different kinds'. Slightly less formal than 様々な.
Various people came to the party.
Means 'mixed' in the sense of being composed of different elements, often used for teams or groups. Somewhat formal.
a mixed team (e.g., men and women, different departments)
Having both positive and negative emotions about something at the same time.
Literally 'complicated feelings'. The most natural way to express mixed emotions in Japanese.
I passed the exam, but I have mixed feelings because I'll be moving far away.
A common pattern meaning 'both happy and sad'. Used to describe bittersweet or conflicting emotions.
Literally 'half-and-half feelings'. Used when you are evenly split between two emotions or opinions.
Describing outcomes, reactions, or quality that are partly good and partly bad.
Including both males and females, such as schools, sports, or groups.
The loanword ミックス is common in product names (e.g., ミックスジュース) but sounds unnatural for abstract concepts like feelings or reviews. Use the native Japanese expressions above instead.
混ざった (intransitive) describes the state of being mixed. 混ぜた (transitive) emphasizes the action of mixing. Use 混ざった for most descriptions.
Graduation gives me mixed feelings of happiness and sadness.
I have mixed feelings about going; half of me wants to and half doesn't.
The reviews are mixed.
Literally 'a mixture of gems and stones', meaning a mix of good and bad. Often used for collections or groups.
This album is a mixed bag (some good tracks, some bad).
water in which paint was mixed (action)