How to say "err" in Japanese

• 誤るあやまるJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe common, general word: to make a mistake in something, commit an error, or do something incorrectly. This is what you want for 'err' in most contexts.
  彼かれは判断はんだんを誤あやまった。↗

  He erred in his judgement.
• 身を誤るみをあやまる
  expression, godan verbA less common phrase for the 'go astray' sense of 'err': to take the wrong path in life. It is not the word for making a mistake in something — use 誤る there.
  好奇心こうきしんは身みを誤あやまる。↗

  Curiosity killed the cat.
• 過つあやまつ
  godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA less common, formal or literary counterpart of 誤る with the same senses: to make a mistake, commit an error, err. For ordinary use, 誤る is the word you want.

Choose 「誤る」 for the general sense of making a mistake or committing an error; use 「身を誤る」 only for going astray or taking the wrong path; 「過つ」 is a formal or literary variant of 「誤る」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 誤るあやまるto make a mistake (in)
• 身を誤るみをあやまるto err
• 過つあやまつto make a mistake (in)
• 違えるたがえるto make a mistake (in)