English–Japanese

“excuse” in Japanese

Japanese

Also弁解 (benkai) · 言い訳 (iiwake)

Romajikōjitsu

彼は仕事を口実にして、誘いを断りました。kare wa shi goto o kō jitsu ni shi te saso i o kotowa ri ma shi ta

He used work as an excuse to turn down the invitation.

“Excuse” in Japanese is 口実 (kōjitsu).

It centers on presenting a convenient stated reason as the real basis for an action, often while hiding the actual motive.

その説明は、責任から逃れるための口実と受け取られました。so no setsu mei wa seki nin ka ra noga re ru ta me no kō jitsu to u ke to ra re ma shi ta

That explanation was taken as a pretext for avoiding responsibility.

In everyday Japanese, 口実 (kōjitsu, "excuse") often suggests that the stated reason is convenient rather than the speaker's true motive, so it can sound more suspicious than a neutral explanation.

benkai

nounexcuse

私は遅刻について弁解しました。watashi wa chi koku ni tsu i te ben kai shi ma shi ta

I made an excuse for being late.

iiwake

nounexcuse

彼は遅刻の言い訳をしました。kare wa chi koku no i i wake o shi ma shi ta

He made an excuse for being late.