間違えました
machigaemashita
In Japanese, "I made a mistake" is said as 間違えました (machigaemashita).
The phrase is used to admit that you have made a mistake in your actions, calculations or judgments.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a form of the verb 間違える (machigaeru), which means "to make a mistake" or "to err".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 間違えました is constructed using the polite past tense suffix -mashita. The informal version of the phrase is 間違えた.
How do you pronounce it?
machigaemashita
When do people say it?
Depending on the context, すみません can also mean "excuse me".
Did you know?
- When admitting a mistake in a group, a speaker might use 私の不徳の致すところです (watashi no futoku no itasu tokoro desu), meaning 'this is due to my own lack of virtue'.
- The phrase can be transformed into a noun phrase 間違い探し (machigai sagashi), which literally translates to 'mistake searching' and refers to the common 'spot the difference' games found in children's books.
- While 間違えました is a direct admission, Japanese speakers often use the phrase 失礼しました (shitsurei shimashita) to apologize for a mistake, which literally means 'I have been rude'.
Examples in context
- 間違えました。I made a mistake.This sentence shows the basic way to state that you made a mistake using 間違えました.Tatoeba #2312024 by tommy_san, translation #433678 by CK
- すみません、間違えました。Sorry, I made a mistake.This sentence shows how to combine an apology with the phrase using 間違えました.Tatoeba #2312026 by tommy_san, translation #2312025 by CK
- すみません。間違えました。Sorry. I made a mistake.This sentence shows how to use an apology followed by the phrase using 間違えました.Tatoeba #10911405 by small_snow, translation #10557482 by AlanF_US
- 申し訳ありませんでした。間違えました。I apologize. I made a mistake.
- 失礼いたしました。手違いでした。I apologize. It was my mistake.
- ごめんなさい。間違えちゃった。I'm sorry. I messed up.
- すみません。ミスをしました。I'm sorry. I made a mistake.
Example conversation
Kenta is apologizing to Himari for using the wrong file.
- 陽葵 Himariこのファイル、使いましたか？Kono fairu, tsukaimashita ka?Did you use this file?
- 健太 Kentaすみません、間違えました。Sumimasen, machigaemashita.I'm sorry, I made a mistake.
- 陽葵 Himari大丈夫ですよ。すぐに直せます。Daijoubu desu yo. Sugu ni naosemasu.It's okay. It can be fixed immediately.
- 健太 Kenta助かります、ありがとうございます。Tasukarimasu, arigatou gozaimasu.That's a big help, thank you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
