人違(ひとちが)い

ひとちがい
noun
mistaken identity, wrong person
1. mistaken identity, case of wrong person
Mistaking one person for another, or being mistaken for someone else.
人違(ひとちが)いでした。
I had the wrong person.
Common apology phrase
人違(ひとちが)いをして声(こえ)をかけてしまった。
I spoke to someone by mistake, thinking they were someone else.
すみません、人違(ひとちが)いではないですか。
Excuse me, don't you have the wrong person?
後(うし)ろ姿(すがた)が似(に)ていたので人違(ひとちが)いをしてしまった。
Their figure from behind looked similar, so I mistook them for someone else.

人違(ひとちが)い means mistaking one person for another — thinking someone is a different person than who they actually are. It can refer to both mistaking a stranger for someone you know, or being mistaken for someone else.

Common expressions

  • 人違(ひとちが)いをする: to mistake someone for another person
  • 人違(ひとちが)いでした: I had the wrong person (common apology phrase)
  • 人違(ひとちが)いではないですか: Don't you have the wrong person?

Usage

Often occurs when someone looks similar from behind (後(うし)ろ姿(すがた)) or at a distance. The phrase 人違(ひとちが)いでした is a standard polite way to apologize after approaching the wrong person.

Related words

Related Words

Related: 見(み)間違(まちが)い (mistaken sight)
Related: 勘違(かんちが)い (misunderstanding, mistaken belief)
Related: 聞(き)き違(ちが)い (mishearing)
general
Added 2026.3.25 23:45 · Revised 2026.10.19 21:31
19000/19449_hitochigai