Meaning
誤 means error, mistake, or being wrong — any moment when something slips from what is correct. A misread instruction, a wrong diagnosis, a careless typo: all fall under 誤. The kanji shows up constantly in formal writing, but you'll hear it in everyday speech too, whenever someone admits they got something wrong.
Structurally, 誤 combines two parts. The left side is 言 (gen), the radical for speech or words. The right side is 吾 (go), which played a phonetic role and carries the sense of "self" or "one's own view." Together they suggest words that veer from the truth — statements made from a personal perspective that turn out to be wrong. Many real errors come down to exactly that: someone insisting on their own version of events.
誤 has 14 strokes and is taught in Grade 6 elementary school. Its radical is 言 (speech), grouping it with 語 (language), 話 (conversation), and 読 (reading). Spotting 言 on the left side of an unfamiliar kanji is a reliable hint that words or communication are involved.
Formal contexts are where 誤 really earns its keep. News corrections, legal documents, medical reports, academic papers — all rely on its compounds. That said, a casual 誤解だった (it was a misunderstanding) fits perfectly in everyday conversation too.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is ゴ, used in almost all compound words. It covers the full register — from casual texts (誤字 in a message) to formal filings (過誤 in a legal brief).
- 誤解 (gokai) — misunderstanding; the single most common compound, used daily
- 誤字 (goji) — miswritten character, typo; when a kanji or kana is written incorrectly
- 過誤 (kago) — error, blunder; a formal or legal term for a serious mistake
- 誤報 (gohou) — false report, misinformation; common in journalism
- 誤用 (goyou) — misuse, incorrect usage; often applied to language errors
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is あやま(る), a native verb meaning to err or to make a mistake. Watch out: あやまる is a homophone of 謝る (to apologize). In speech, only context tells them apart.
- 誤る (ayamaru) — to err, to make a mistake
- 誤った判断 (ayamatta handan) — a mistaken judgment
- 誤り (ayamari) — an error, a mistake (noun form)
Common Words & Compounds
誤 compounds span many domains. Here are the most useful ones, grouped by context.
Misunderstanding & Communication Errors
- 誤解 (gokai) — misunderstanding; used daily in both spoken and written Japanese
- 誤報 (gohou) — false report, misinformation; standard in news and media
- 誤伝 (goden) — misinformation passed on; when wrong information gets relayed further
Writing & Language Errors
- 誤字 (goji) — miswritten character, typo
- 誤植 (goshoku) — typographical error, misprint; a publishing term
- 誤用 (goyou) — misuse, incorrect usage (especially of words or grammar)
- 誤記 (goki) — clerical error, incorrect entry in a written record
Judgment & Decision Errors
- 誤判 (gohan) — misjudgment, wrong verdict; used in legal contexts. Note: reads identically to ご飯 (meal) — context makes it clear.
- 誤診 (goshin) — misdiagnosis; a doctor's incorrect diagnosis
- 過誤 (kago) — error, blunder; formal language, often legal or official
Action Errors
- 誤操作 (gosousa) — operational error; pressing the wrong button or making a wrong move
- 誤作動 (gosadou) — malfunction, unintended operation of a machine or system
Example Sentences
彼の発言は誤解を招いた。
Kare no hatsugen wa gokai wo maneita.
His statement caused a misunderstanding.
誤字がないか、もう一度確認してください。
Goji ga nai ka, mou ichido kakunin shite kudasai.
Please check one more time for any typos.
私は誤った情報を信じてしまった。
Watashi wa ayamatta jouhou wo shinjite shimatta.
I ended up believing incorrect information.
医師の誤診が患者に深刻な影響を与えた。
Ishi no goshin ga kanja ni shinkoku na eikyou wo ataeta.
The doctor's misdiagnosis had a serious impact on the patient.
誤りを認めることは大切だ。
Ayamari wo mitomeru koto wa taisetsu da.
Acknowledging one's mistakes is important.
このニュースは誤報だったと判明した。
Kono nyuusu wa gohou datta to hanmei shita.
It turned out that this news was a false report.
誤操作でファイルを削除してしまった。
Gosousa de fairu wo sakujo shite shimatta.
I accidentally deleted the file by pressing the wrong button.
彼女は過誤を繰り返さないよう努力した。
Kanojo wa kago wo kurikaesanai you doryoku shita.
She worked hard not to repeat the same errors.
この文書には誤記があるので訂正が必要だ。
Kono bunsho ni wa goki ga aru node teisei ga hitsuyou da.
There is a clerical error in this document, so a correction is needed.
Memory Tip
Picture the left side 言 (words) as a mouth speaking, and the right side 吾 as someone stubbornly insisting on their own view. Words + ego = saying something from your perspective that turns out to be wrong. That's 誤. It maps neatly onto 誤解 (gokai, misunderstanding) — where two people each hear their own version of what was said and both walk away convinced they were right.