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.
いろいろな色が混ざった絵の具
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.
小麦粉と卵を混ぜた生地
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).
混合ガソリン
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.
様々な意見が出た。
Various opinions were expressed.
このクラスは様々な国籍の学生がいる。
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.
パーティーにはいろいろな人が来た。
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.
混成チーム
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.
合格したけど、遠くに行くので複雑な気持ちだ。
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.
卒業は嬉しいような悲しいような気持ちだ。
Graduation gives me mixed feelings of happiness and sadness.
Literally 'half-and-half feelings'. Used when you are evenly split between two emotions or opinions.
行きたい気持ちと行きたくない気持ちが半々だ。
I have mixed feelings about going; half of me wants to and half doesn't.
Describing outcomes, reactions, or quality that are partly good and partly bad.
Means 'both approval and disapproval', used for mixed reviews or divided opinions.
その映画は賛否両論だった。
The movie received mixed reviews.
Means 'varied' or 'mixed' when referring to opinions, results, or conditions that differ from person to person or case to case.
評価はまちまちだ。
The reviews are mixed.
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.
Literally 'a mixture of gems and stones', meaning a mix of good and bad. Often used for collections or groups.
このアルバムは玉石混交だ。
This album is a mixed bag (some good tracks, some bad).