7 Embarrassing Japanese Mistakes That Make Native Speakers Cringe
Avoid these mortifying Japanese mistakes that foreigners make constantly. From pronunciation fails to cultural blunders, learn what NOT to do.
We've all been there. You confidently say something in Japanese, expecting approval... and instead get barely suppressed laughter or that polite "oooh" Japanese people do when you've said something hilariously wrong.
Here are 7 mortifying mistakes I've seen (and made), plus how to fix them.
Mistake #1: Confusing "Kawaii" and "Kowai"
Cringe Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
You see a cute puppy and say:
❌ 「わあ、怖い！」 (Waa, kowai!)
What you meant: "How cute!" What you said: "How scary!"
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 可愛い | かわいい (ka-wa-i-i) | Cute |
| 怖い | こわい (ko-wa-i) | Scary |
可愛い has FOUR syllables. 怖い has THREE. Practice them back-to-back!
You see a baby and want to say 'How cute!' Which do you say?
Quiz options are unavailable for this question.
Mistake #2: The "Counting People" Disaster
Cringe Level: 🔥🔥🔥
At a restaurant with friends, you say:
❌ 「四つです」 (Yottsu desu)
Using つ for people sounds like "four things" about humans. Use 人 (nin):
| For Objects (つ) | For People (人) |
|---|---|
| ひとつ | ひとり |
| ふたつ | ふたり |
| みっつ | さんにん |
| よっつ | よにん ✅ |
✅ 「四人です」 (Yonin desu)
Mistake #3: The Dreaded "R/L" Pronunciation
Cringe Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Talking about elections (選挙 = senkyo) but producing something that sounds like... a very inappropriate body part.
| Intended | Dangerous Miss |
|---|---|
| 選挙 (せんきょ - election) | 性器 (inappropriate) |
| 旅行 (りょこう - travel) | Unclear pronunciation |
The Fix: The Japanese "R" is a light tongue tap—between English R, L, and D. Practice らりるれろ with native audio.
Mistake #4: Using "Anata" Constantly
Cringe Level: 🔥🔥🔥
❌ 「あなたは何を食べますか？」
あなた (you) sounds either romantic (between couples) or condescending.
The Fix: Use their name or omit the pronoun:
✅ 「田中さんは何を食べますか？」 ✅ 「何を食べますか？」
Mistake #5: Saying "Sumimasen" for Everything
Cringe Level: 🔥
Using すみません for every situation makes you sound like you're constantly apologizing.
| Situation | Better Choice |
|---|---|
| Thank you (gift) | ありがとうございます |
| Passing through | 失礼します |
| Getting attention | すみません ✅ |
Mistake #6: The "Chotto" Trap
Cringe Level: 🔥🔥
Friend: 「映画に行かない？」 You: 「ちょっと...」
You think you said "a little busy." They hear: HARD NO.
ちょっと alone with trailing off is Japan's polite rejection. If you're genuinely considering, add more:
✅ 「ちょっと忙しいかもだけど、時間があれば...」
Mistake #7: Hospital vs. Beauty Salon
Cringe Level: 🔥🔥🔥
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| びょういん (病院) | Hospital |
| びよういん (美容院) | Beauty salon |
The difference: びょう (long o) vs びよ (short then yo).
Tell someone you're going to the "biyouin" when you mean hospital, and they'll wonder why you need a haircut so urgently.
How to Recover From Mistakes
- 01Laugh it off: 「すみません、間違えました！」
- 02Ask for help: 「何て言えばいいですか？」
- 03Keep going: Don't freeze—dwelling makes it awkward.
Conclusion
Mistakes are inevitable. The learners who become fluent make errors, learn, and keep going.
Ready to practice? Train with KanaDojo and lock in correct vocabulary!
間違いを恐れないで！(Don't fear mistakes!)
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