A mist generating device comprising a vibrating plate which vibrates at a high frequency and a liquid supply mechanism for supplying a conductive liquid such as water to the vibrating plate and generating a mist by bringing the liquid supplied through the liquid supply mechanism into contact with the vibrating plate for atomization, the mist generating device further comprising: a liquid-contact detecting unit for detecting presence of contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate; a protective operation performing unit for performing a protective operation for preventing idle vibration of the vibrating plate when the liquid-contact detecting unit detects non-contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate; wherein the liquid-contact detecting unit includes: first and second detecting electrodes between which the liquid is filled only during a period when the liquid is in contact with the vibrating plate ; and a determining unit for determining presence of contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate on the basis of an impedance between the first detecting electrode and the second detecting electrode , and, characterized in that , by giving the same potential to both ends of a series circuit of the impedance between the both electrodes and a pull resistance (R1) at non-detection, while giving a known potential difference to the both ends of the series circuit at detection, the impedance is detected through a voltage drop generated in the pull resistance (R1) at that time. a liquid-contact detecting unit for detecting presence of contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate; a protective operation performing unit for performing a protective operation for preventing idle vibration of the vibrating plate when the liquid-contact detecting unit detects non-contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate; wherein the liquid-contact detecting unit includes: first and second detecting electrodes between which the liquid is filled only during a period when the liquid is in contact with the vibrating plate ; and a determining unit for determining presence of contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate on the basis of an impedance between the first detecting electrode and the second detecting electrode , and, characterized in that , by giving the same potential to both ends of a series circuit of the impedance between the both electrodes and a pull resistance (R1) at non-detection, while giving a known potential difference to the both ends of the series circuit at detection, the impedance is detected through a voltage drop generated in the pull resistance (R1) at that time. first and second detecting electrodes between which the liquid is filled only during a period when the liquid is in contact with the vibrating plate ; and a determining unit for determining presence of contact of the liquid with the vibrating plate on the basis of an impedance between the first detecting electrode and the second detecting electrode , and, characterized in that , by giving the same potential to both ends of a series circuit of the impedance between the both electrodes and a pull resistance (R1) at non-detection, while giving a known potential difference to the both ends of the series circuit at detection, the impedance is detected through a voltage drop generated in the pull resistance (R1) at that time. <EOS>