JLPT N2・N3 Vocabulary – Difference between “間違い” and “勘違い”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “間違い” and “勘違い”
2. 間違い
3. 勘違い
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
: What is the difference between “間違い” and “勘違い”?
A: Both words express the idea of an “error,” but they differ in nuance. Which word to use depends on what the mistake is about and how the error occurred. Let’s take a closer look at each.
間違い (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
① Something incorrect or inaccurate
② Mistakes that occur in daily life or in the workplace
③ Irreparable errors that go against social norms or morality
[Examples]
この書き方には間違いがあります。（①）
There is a mistake in this way of writing.
間違いは誰にでもあるから、次からがんばろう！（②）
Mistakes happen to everyone, so let’s do better next time!
彼は人生において大きな間違いを犯しました。（③）
He made a serious mistake in his life.
“間違い” refers to an “error” viewed from an objective perspective.
It is mainly used with the following meanings:
① Something that differs from correct standards or facts
”間違い” is used in a wide range of contexts, including learning and work situations.
[Examples]
ここの答え、間違いだよ。
The answer here is wrong.
恐れ入りますが、こちらのご住所は間違いのようです。
I’m afraid there seems to be a mistake in this address.
② Mistakes that occur in daily life or in the workplace
It refers to errors or failures that happen in everyday life or at work.
[Examples]
A：この間、発注書に「5」じゃなくて「50」って書いちゃって、ボールペンが50本も届いちゃったんだ。先輩にすごく怒られたよ。
B：誰にでも間違いはあるよ。でも次は気をつけないとね。
A: The other day, I accidentally wrote “50” instead of “5” on the order form, and 50 pens were delivered. My senior got really mad at me.
B: Everyone makes mistakes. But you need to be more careful next time.
⇒ Talking about a mistake made at work.
A：どうしてこんな間違いに気づかなかったの！？
B：すみません、何度も見直したんですが……。
A: How could you not notice such a mistake!?
B: I’m sorry, I checked it over and over, but…
⇒ This is also a conversation about a workplace mistake.
③ Irreparable errors that violate social norms or morality It refers to errors that are socially condemned. In the case of moral errors, the expression “間違いを犯す” (to commit a mistake) is used.
[Examples]
彼女は二度と間違いを犯さないように誓いました。
She vowed never to make the same mistake again.
⇒ It means she promised never to commit the same moral mistake again.
誰かを傷つける嘘は、間違いだと思う。
I believe that telling lies that hurt others is wrong.
⇒ It means telling lies that hurt others is morally wrong.
勘違い (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Believing something incorrectly or misunderstanding something.
[Examples]
会議の時間は9時からだと勘違いしていた！
I mistakenly thought the meeting started at 9 o’clock!
今日は祝日か。平日だと勘違いしてたよ。
I thought today was a holiday, but it turns out it’s a weekday. I completely misunderstood.
わたしは勘違いしやすいから、予定を何度も確認します。
I tend to misunderstand things easily, so I check my schedule multiple times.
“勘違い” refers to “beliefs or misunderstandings” that arise from a subjective perspective. While “間違い” is a broad term used in various contexts, “勘違い” has only one meaning: a mistaken belief or misunderstanding.
[Examples]
今日は祝日だと思っていたけど、平日だったよ。完全に勘違いしてた。
I thought today was a holiday, but it turned out to be a weekday. I completely misunderstood.
⇒ It means not realizing today was a weekday and mistakenly believing it was a holiday.
A：彼女も僕のことが好きだと思っていたのに……。
B：それ、勘違いだったの？
A: I thought she liked me too…
B: Was that just a misunderstanding?
⇒ It means asking, “Was that simply your mistaken belief?”
Let’s Compare
Both “間違い” and “勘違い” refer to “errors,” but they differ in perspective and nuance.
“間違い” is used when something differs from objective facts or correct answers.
On the other hand, “勘違い” specifically refers to errors caused by one’s own mistaken beliefs or misunderstandings.
Let’s compare them using concrete examples.
[例]
× 今日が病院に行く日だと思ったら、明日だったよ。間違いだった！
I thought today was the day to go to the hospital, but it turned out to be tomorrow. I misunderstood!
◯ 今日が病院に行く日だと思ったら、明日だったよ。勘違いしてた！
I thought today was the day to go to the hospital, but it turned out to be tomorrow. It was a mistake!
⇒ Since it was caused by personal misunderstanding about the date, “勘違い” is the natural choice.
◯ この計算、答えが違ってるよ。間違いだね。
There’s a mistake in this calculation.
× この計算、答えが違ってるよ。勘違いだね。
There’s a misunderstanding in this calculation.
⇒ Since the answer objectively differs from the correct one, “間違い” is the natural choice.
In short:
An objective error against facts → “間違い”
A personal error caused by mistaken belief → “勘違い”
Summary
[間違い]
- Objective.
- ① Something that differs from truth or correct answers in various contexts such as learning or work.
- ② Mistakes or errors that occur in daily life or at work.
- ③ Moral errors that are socially condemned.
[勘違い]
- Subjective.
- Believing something to be correct on a personal level.
- It carries the same meaning as “mistaken belief” or “misunderstanding.”
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. 間違い
このデータには明らかな間違いがあります。すぐに修正が必要です。
There is an obvious mistake in this data. It needs to be corrected immediately.
*Since it is a work-related error, “間違い” is the correct choice.
A. 勘違い
今日のミーティングは14時からだった。時間を勘違いしてた！
Today’s meeting was actually at 2 p.m. I misunderstood the time!
*Since it was a mistaken belief about the time, “勘違い” is the correct choice.
A. 間違い
いじめを見て見ぬふりをするのは間違いですよ。
Turning a blind eye to bullying is wrong.
*Since it is a moral error, “間違い” is the correct choice.
A. 勘違い
彼女の誕生日は5月だと思っていたのに、6月だった！ずっと勘違いしていたよ。
I thought her birthday was in May, but it was actually in June. I had been misunderstanding it all along.
*Since it was a mistaken belief about her birthday, “勘違い” is the correct choice.
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