誤

Mistake

Level 90

How this kanji evolved

Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.

The character 誤 (error, mistake) evolved from ancient Chinese script. It consists of two components: 言 (speech, words) and 呉 (ancient form related to 'entertain' or 'play'). Originally, 誤 depicted 'speaking playfully' or 'careless talk' that leads to errors. Over time, it generalized to mean any kind of mistake or misunderstanding. In Liushutong, the variant L36053 shows the early structural relationship between these components that eventually standardized into modern 誤. Arrived in Japan: The character 誤 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and diplomatic exchanges. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as part of the kanji imported during the Yamato period.

Reading reference

Onyomi (音読み)

ゴ

Kunyomi (訓読み)

あやま

Related Vocabulary

誤り
error, mistake, slip, bug
誤解
misunderstanding
誤算
miscalculation
誤字
misprint, misspelling, typo, typographical error, erratum
誤用
misuse, incorrect use, abuse, malapropism
錯誤
mistake, error, discrepancy, discrepancy between one's actions and intentions