Japanese with Manga
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Correcting a case of mistaken identity with 訂正

Kanji Explanation: Correction and revision with 訂

Manga panel from 僕が僕であるために。 showing example of Correcting a case of mistaken identity with 訂正.
僕が僕であるために。 » Volume 1 » Page 51

While Sana is away with her other friends for a moment, Ayumu leaves to use the restroom. Shun takes off his glasses to rub something from his eye, only for Sana to return and mistake him for Ayumu. He doesn’t correct her, but when Sana asks where Shun is, Shun says the restroom, and goes that way himself to wash his eye.

In the restroom, Shun finds Ayumu and is about to explain what happened, but stops himself. Ayumu says it’s better not to hold back, and that Shun can say anything to him. Shun finally explains that Sana mistook him for Ayumu.

駿(しゅん):
「訂正(ていせい)しなきゃって思(おも)ったんだけど機会(きかい)逃(のが)しちゃって…」
“I thought I should correct it, but I missed the chance…”

Key Points

  1. 訂正(ていせい)する = to correct a mistake

    • In this scene, 訂正(ていせい)する means correcting Sana’s misunderstanding after she mistook Shun for Ayumu.

    • The kanji 訂 points to fixing or revising something that was wrong, so 訂正(ていせい) fits “set the record straight” better than a vague “say something”.

  2. Casual obligation: しなきゃ

    • 「しなきゃ」 is a casual contraction of しなければいけない / しなければならない, meaning “have to do”.

    • Here 訂正(ていせい)しなきゃ means “I have to correct it”, with an internal sense of obligation rather than a formal rule.

  3. Quoted thought: って思(おも)った

    • The って marks the content of his thought in casual speech: “I thought, ‘I need to correct it.’”

  4. Missed opportunity: 機会(きかい)逃(のが)しちゃって

    • 「機会(きかい)を 逃(のが)しちゃって」 is the fuller idea; the object marker を is omitted in casual speech.

    • 「〜ちゃって」 adds a regretful or uncontrolled feeling here: he ended up missing the chance.

See Also