Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Make" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "make", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
間違う
まちがう (machigau)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
軽視
けいし (keishi)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 間違う and 軽視.
In Japanese, 間違う (まちがう (machigau)) is typically associated with "to make a mistake, to be wrong" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents An intransitive verb meaning to be incorrect, to make an error, or to be mistaken. The transitive form is 間違える.
On the other hand, 軽視 (けいし (keishi)) maps to "to make light of, to belittle, to underestimate, to disregard" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents ある事柄や要素を重要でないと考え、軽く扱うこと。その価値や重要性を低く評価する際に使う。. A literal translation of "make" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "間違う"
テストの答えが間違っていた。
My test answer was wrong.
Bilingual Context for "軽視"
彼は安全対策を軽視したため、事故が起こった。
He disregarded safety measures, which led to the accident.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "テストの答えが間違っていた。" (Meaning: "My test answer was wrong.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "間違う" fits here because it means "to make a mistake, to be wrong" in the context of: "My test answer was wrong.". "軽視" represents "to make light of, to belittle, to underestimate, to disregard".