Translation guide
Describes something obscured or softened by mist, or metaphorically unclear, vague, or emotional. Japanese uses different words for literal misty weather, blurred vision, and hazy memories.
Describing weather or a scene with mist, fog, or haze.
Literally 'mist is hanging over'. The most common way to say a place or view is misty.
今朝は山に霧がかかっていて、とても幻想的だった。
This morning the mountains were misty and looked really magical.
Uses 'もや' (haze) instead of '霧'. Often implies a thinner, more widespread mistiness, like morning haze over a city.
遠くのビルにもやがかかって、景色がぼんやりしていた。
The distant buildings were misty and the view was blurry.
Verb/adjective meaning 'hazy' or 'misty'. Often used for distant landscapes or spring haze.
春の霞んだ空気の中で、遠くの山がぼんやり見えた。
In the misty spring air, the distant mountains looked faint.
Describing eyes or vision that is blurred, often from tears or emotion.
Specifically for eyes blurred by tears. 'かすむ' means to become hazy.
感動して、目が涙でかすんだ。
I was so moved that my eyes became misty.
Describes eyes welling up with tears, giving a misty look. More about the tears forming than the blurred vision.
彼女の目がうるんで、声が震えた。
Her eyes grew misty and her voice trembled.
Describing memories or thoughts that are vague, unclear, or hazy.
General word for 'vague', 'dim', or 'hazy'. Works for memories, outlines, or consciousness.
子供の頃の記憶はぼんやりしている。
My childhood memories are misty.
Means 'dim', 'hazy', or 'obscure'. Often used for memories or dreams. Slightly literary.
おぼろげな記憶をたどって、昔の友人を探した。
I searched for an old friend following my misty memories.
Describing a surface like glass or a mirror that is fogged up or steamy.
Means 'cloudy' or 'fogged up'. Used for mirrors, windows, glasses. Not for weather mist.
風呂上がりで鏡が曇って、顔が見えなかった。
After the bath, the mirror was misty and I couldn't see my face.
霧 (きり) is fog/mist that reduces visibility to less than 1 km. もや is haze with visibility over 1 km. 霞 (かすみ) is a poetic term for spring haze. For 'misty weather', 霧がかかった is the safest choice.
The katakana word ミスティ is not commonly used in Japanese. It might appear in product names or as a foreign loanword, but it's not natural for describing weather or emotions.