Meaning

Primary

Mistaken Identity

Word Type

noun, verbal noun

Explanation

A person who is different from the person you thought it was is a mistaken identity. Whoops, sorry, I thought you were someone else. 人違い!

Reading

ひとちがい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The readings are and 違い put together.

Context

Context Sentences

人違いでした。すみません。

It was a case of mistaken identity. I apologize.

ビエトはヤクザじゃありません。人違いで疑われたかわいそうな被害者なんですよ。

Viet isn't a yakuza. He is a poor victim of mistaken identity.

妻にボーナスを渡したつもりだったんですが、どうやら人違いだったようです。

I thought I had given my wife a bonus, but it seems like I made a mistake and gave it to the wrong person.

はい、私達も結合双生児ではありますが、申し訳ありませんがあなたは人違いをしていると思います。

Yes, we are also conjoined twins, but I’m afraid you are mistaking us for a different set of twins.

Kanji Composition