Translation guide
How to express 'misread' in Japanese, covering reading errors, misinterpretation of situations, and misreading people's feelings.
To read a word, character, or text incorrectly, often due to a mistake in pronunciation or recognition.
To misunderstand a situation, someone's intentions, or a non-verbal cue.
General verb for misunderstanding or misinterpreting. Can be used for misreading a situation or someone's words.
彼の沈黙を怒っていると誤解した。
I misread his silence as anger.
To incorrectly guess what someone is thinking or feeling.
Directly means 'misread feelings'. Natural and commonly understood.
彼の気持ちを読み間違えて、告白するタイミングを逃した。
I misread his feelings and missed the chance to confess.
The most common and general verb for misreading something written. It can refer to misreading a kanji, a number, or a sentence.
漢字を読み間違えた。
I misread the kanji.
数字を読み間違えて、違う部屋に行ってしまった。
I misread the number and ended up going to the wrong room.
A slightly more formal or literary synonym for 読み間違える. Often used in written contexts.
古文書の文字を読み誤った。
I misread the characters in the old document.
Literally 'mis-see', but can be used when you misread something because you saw it incorrectly. More about visual mistake than reading comprehension.
「未」を「末」と見間違えた。
I misread 'mi' as 'matsu' (because they look similar).
It seems I misread the situation.
To misjudge or misread a situation, often by failing to grasp the true nature. Slightly formal.
情勢を見誤ると大変なことになる。
If you misread the situation, things could get serious.
To get the wrong idea, to mistake something. More casual than 誤解する. Often used for personal assumptions.
彼女が手を振ったのを、こっちに来いという意味だと勘違いした。
I misread her waving as a sign to come over.
Literally 'can't read someone's heart/mind'. Often used when someone is hard to read.
彼は無表情で、心を読めない。
He's expressionless; I can't read his mind.
To misread someone's thoughts or intentions.
上司の考えを読み違えて、企画が通らなかった。
I misread my boss's thoughts and the plan wasn't approved.