Translation guide
How to express that an action was done unintentionally, accidentally, or in error.
間違って違うのを取りました。
I took the wrong one by mistake.
The action happened without the speaker intending it, often due to carelessness or chance.
Adverb meaning 'carelessly', 'inadvertently'. Used when you do something without thinking or by oversight.
うっかり電車を乗り過ごした。
I accidentally missed my train stop.
うっかり秘密を話してしまった。
I carelessly blurted out the secret.
Te-form of 間違う (to make a mistake). Means 'by mistake', 'erroneously'. Used when you do the wrong thing.
間違って違うボタンを押した。
I pressed the wrong button by mistake.
間違って彼の傘を持って帰った。
I took his umbrella home by mistake.
Te-form of 誤る (to err). More formal than 間違って. Often used in official contexts or writing.
誤って個人情報を送信してしまいました。
I mistakenly sent personal information.
Adverb meaning 'unintentionally', 'without thinking'. Often used for actions done out of habit or impulse.
つい食べ過ぎてしまった。
I ended up eating too much (without meaning to).
つい嘘をついてしまった。
I accidentally told a lie.
Te-form of うっかりする, meaning 'to be careless'. Used to explain the reason for a mistake.
うっかりして、約束を忘れた。
I was careless and forgot the appointment.
The action was done based on a misunderstanding or incorrect information.
Te-form of 勘違いする (to misunderstand). Means 'mistakenly', 'under the wrong impression'.
勘違いして、違う日に行ってしまった。
I went on the wrong day by mistake.
彼は勘違いして怒った。
He got angry due to a misunderstanding.
Noun meaning 'misunderstanding', 'wrong idea'. Used with で to mean 'due to a misunderstanding'.
それは思い違いでした。
That was a misunderstanding.
The mistake is a physical slip, like dropping something or hitting the wrong key.
Literally 'my hand slipped'. Used when you drop or break something accidentally.
手が滑ってコップを割った。
My hand slipped and I broke the glass.
Means 'due to an operational error'. Common in technical or work contexts.
操作ミスでデータが消えた。
The data was deleted due to an operational error.
うっかり is for careless oversights (forgetting, missing). 間違って is for doing the wrong thing (wrong button, wrong person). 誤って is the formal version of 間違って, used in official apologies or reports.
ミスで is a loanword and sounds casual or business-like. It's not natural for personal, everyday mistakes like forgetting an umbrella. Use うっかり or 間違って instead.
ごめん、間違って君のメールを開けちゃった。
Sorry, I opened your mail by mistake.
うっかりファイルを消しちゃった。
I accidentally deleted the file.