混ざる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 混ざる (まざる) is a godan intransitive verb for different substances or elements becoming mixed together.
• Basic usage: 砂に小石が混ざっている describes black pebbles present among white sand, while 絵の具に水が混ざる describes water entering paint and making its color lighter.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Resulting mixture and mixing change
  • 混ざっている is a resulting state, whereas 混ざると sets the mixing event as a condition for change. Neither is the transitive action of a person mixing something.