Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "かける", "汚す", "間違える", "間違う"
All represent the core concept "make", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
かける
かける (kakeru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
汚す
よごす (yogosu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
間違える
まちがえる (machigaeru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
間違う
まちがう (machigau)
N4 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "make" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "かける", "汚す", "間違える", "間違う" based on context.
- かける (かける (kakeru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to make a phone call; to hang; to wear (glasses)" and is used when This verb has multiple meanings. For N5, common usages include 「電話をかける」.
- 汚す (よごす (yogosu) - Level: N4): Maps to "to make dirty (transitive)" and is used when Used when someone *makes* something dirty. It emphasizes the action of an agent causing something to become dirty.
- 間違える (まちがえる (machigaeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to make a mistake, to err" and is used when Used when one makes an error, often unintentionally. It can be for misremembering, miscalculating, etc..
- 間違う (まちがう (machigau) - Level: N4): Maps to "to make a mistake, to be wrong" and is used when An intransitive verb meaning to be incorrect, to make an error, or to be mistaken. The transitive form is 間違える.
Context for "かける"
友達に電話をかけます。
I will make a phone call to my friend.
Context for "汚す"
彼はシャツにインクをこぼして汚してしまいました。
He spilled ink on his shirt and made it dirty.
Context for "間違える"
住所を間違えて、違う場所に行ってしまった。
I went to the wrong place because I made a mistake with the address.
Context for "間違う"
テストの答えが間違っていた。
My test answer was wrong.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達に電話をかけます。" (Meaning: "I will make a phone call to my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "かける" is correct here because it represents "to make a phone call; to hang; to wear (glasses)" in the context: "I will make a phone call to my friend.".