過あやまち

あ

や

ま

ち

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to a mistake, wrongdoing, or moral failing. Often used in formal or reflective contexts, such as admitting one's own error or discussing a lapse in judgment.

自じ分ぶんの過あやまちを認みとめるのは勇ゆう気きがいる。
It takes courage to admit one's own mistakes.
彼かれは若わかい頃ころの過あやまちを後こう悔かいしている。
He regrets the indiscretions of his youth.

See all 166 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

過あやまちを認みとめるto admit one's fault or mistake
彼かれは自じ分ぶんの過あやまちを素す直なおに認みとめた。
He honestly admitted his mistake.
過あやまちに気きづくto realize one's mistake
彼かの女じょは後あとになって自じ分ぶんの過あやまちに気きづいた。
She later realized her mistake.
過あやまちを繰くり返かえすto repeat the same mistake
同おなじ過あやまちを繰くり返かえしてはいけない。
You must not repeat the same mistake.
過あやまちから学まなぶto learn from one's mistakes
人ひとは過あやまちから学まなび、成せい長ちょうしていくものだ。
People grow by learning from their mistakes.
〈人ひと〉の過あやまちを許ゆるすto forgive someone's fault
彼かれは友ゆう人じんの過あやまちを許ゆるした。
He forgave his friend's mistake.

Expressions

過あやまちを文かざるto gloss over a mistake; to cover up an error with a veneer of correctness
過あやまちを犯おかすmake a mistake; commit an error
過あやまちを改あらためるcorrect a fault; mend one's ways
過あやまちを観みて斯ここに仁じんを知しるby observing a person's faults, one can know their virtue
過あやまちて改あらためざるこれを過あやまちというA mistake uncorrected is a mistake indeed; Not correcting a mistake is itself a mistake
過あやまちては則すなわち改あらたむるに憚はばかること勿なかれwhen you make a mistake, don't hesitate to correct it; do not delay in making amends for your wrongs

Kanji

過overdo, exceed, go beyond
誤mistake, err, do wrong

Related words· 8

間ま違ちがいN3
間違い is a general, everyday word for a mistake or error, while 過ち carries a heavier, more moral or personal-failing nuance and is typically used in formal or reflective contexts.
失しっ敗ぱいN4
失敗 focuses on an unsuccessful outcome or failed attempt, whereas 過ち emphasizes the fault or wrongdoing itself, especially one's personal responsibility for it.
過か失しつN2
過失 is a formal, often legal term for negligence or fault, while 過ち is a broader, more moral or personal term for a mistake or lapse in judgment.
非ひN2
過ち is a concrete mistake or wrongdoing someone commits, while 非 is the more abstract quality of being at fault, as in 非を認める.

Show 4 more

落おち度ど
過ち is a slightly literary word for a wrongdoing or moral error, while 落ち度 focuses on a lapse of care or duty.
罪つみN3
過ち refers to a mistake or fault that is usually less severe or unintentional, while 罪 in its fault sense implies real blame or culpability.
誤あやまりN3
過ち carries a moral or serious connotation of wrongdoing, while 誤り is more neutral and factual, referring to errors in judgment or data.
ミスN3
過ち is a more literary and moral term for a wrongdoing or serious error, while ミス is casual and neutral, used for everyday slip-ups.

Don't confuse with

誤あやまりN3
誤り and 過ち look and sound similar, but 過ち implies a morally wrong act while 誤り is a neutral factual error.

Written forms

過あやまちUsage81%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
あやまちUsage16%
誤あやまちUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 過ち is strongly preferred.
アヤマチUsage<1%

Etymology

Derived from the verb 過つ (あやまつ, 'to err'). The kanji 過 means 'exceed' or 'go too far', reflecting the sense of a misstep or transgression.