The Meaning of ayamari [誤り] In Japanese

誤り
あやまり
Romaji: ayamari N5

What does 誤り mean?

Translation and Meaning

error, mistake, fault

Definition

誤り means an error or mistake. It denotes a deviation from accuracy or truth in statements, calculations, or interpretations, and is used in formal writing, analysis, and critique to point out faults or misstatements.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • De facto error: a factual misstatement or incorrect calculation within data or reasoning.
  • Misinterpretation: a mistaken understanding or conclusion from information.
  • Flaw in a process, system, or design that warrants correction or revision.
  • In scholarship or journalism, a recognized mistake that should be acknowledged and amended.

Etymology

etimologia From 誤る (ayamaru) with the nominalizing suffix -り, forming 誤り; 誤 conveys error and the noun expresses the state or act of erring.

Origin

Origin in classical and modern Japanese: formed from the verb 誤る (to err) with the nominal suffix -り.

Composition

  • 誤: error, wrongness
  • り: nominalizing suffix that turns the verb 誤る into a noun 誤り

Usage

Used as a noun in formal writing, technical documentation, and critique to identify a mistake; in casual speech, 間違い is more common. Common constructions include 誤りを指摘する, 誤りを訂正する, 誤りを認める.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: aya-mari = away from accuracy; think of taking a wrong turn that leaves you in a state (mari) of error, which is 誤り.

Variations

  • 間違い — machigai
  • ミス — misu
  • 過ち — ayamachi

Example Phrases

  • 報告書の誤りを見つけて、上司に伝えた。
    Hōkokusho no ayamari o mitsukete, jōshi ni tsutaeta.
    I found an error in the report and told my boss.
    Lista:
    • 報告書 (hōkokusho) – report
    • の (no) – genitive marker
    • 誤り (ayamari) – error
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 見つけて (mitsukete) – found
    • 上司 (jōshi) – boss
    • に (ni) – to
    • 伝えた (tsutaeta) – told
    Here 「誤り」 means ‘error’, and it’s the head noun of 報告書の誤り; の connects 報告書 and 誤り for a possessive/modifier relation.
誤り