What is the difference between "咎める" and "とがめる"?

"咎める" means "to blame, to censure, to reprove, to find fault with" (N2), whereas "とがめる" represents "to blame, to reproach" (C1).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "とがめる (togameru)"

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

Kanji Option A

とがめる (togameru)

N2 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

とがめる (togameru)

C1 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "とがめる (togameru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

咎める (Level: N2): Translates to "to blame, to censure, to reprove, to find fault with" and is used when To criticize, reprimand, or feel guilty about something. Can be used for blaming others or one's own conscience.
とがめる (Level: C1): Maps to "to blame, to reproach" and carries the nuance of Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..

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

Bilingual Context for "咎める"

彼女は彼の無責任な行動を咎めた。

She blamed him for his irresponsible behavior.

Bilingual Context for "とがめる"

毎日、日本語を練習するためにとがめる。

Every day, I blame, to reproach to practice Japanese.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "彼女は彼の無責任な行動を咎めた。" (Meaning: "She blamed him for his irresponsible behavior.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "咎める" is used for "to blame, to censure, to reprove, to find fault with" in the context: "She blamed him for his irresponsible behavior.".