What is the difference between "誤り" and "あやまり"?

"誤り" means "error; mistake; slip" (N3), whereas "あやまり" represents "Apology; mistake, error" (N2).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "あやまり (ayamari)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

あやまり (ayamari)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

あやまり (ayamari)

N2 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "あやまり (ayamari)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

誤り (Level: N3): Translates to "error; mistake; slip" and is used when Refers to a mistake, error, or slip.
あやまり (Level: N2): Maps to "Apology; mistake, error" and carries the nuance of Can mean 'apology'.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "誤り"

レポートの中にいくつかの文法の誤りを発見しました。

I discovered several grammatical errors in the report.

Bilingual Context for "あやまり"

彼の報告書には多くの誤りがあった。

There were many errors in his report.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "レポートの中にいくつかの文法の＿＿＿を発見しました。" (Meaning: "I discovered several grammatical errors in the report.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "誤り" is used for "error; mistake; slip" in the context: "I discovered several grammatical errors in the report.".