Japanese word

ごまかす

Pronunciation

Romajigomakasu

Meaning

  • verbcheat

Example

彼は試験の答えをごまかします。kare wa shi ken no kota e o go ma ka shi ma su

He cheats on the test.

Illustration for ごまかす (cheat)

More examples

彼は間違いをごまかして、すぐに謝りませんでした。kare wa ma chiga i o go ma ka shi te su gu ni ayama ri ma se n de shi ta

He covered up his mistake and did not apologize right away.

Core concept

Describes making a situation seem acceptable by hiding the truth or avoiding a fair process.

Common phrases

  • 答えをごまかすkota e o go ma ka su

    fake an answer

  • 数字をごまかすsū ji o go ma ka su

    falsify figures

  • うそでごまかすu so de go ma ka su

    cover up with a lie

Similar words

騙すdamasu: To make someone believe something false or act on false information.
はぐらかすhagurakasu: To avoid a question or issue by giving an indirect answer or changing the subject.
取り繕うtoritsukurou: To hide a problem and make a situation look normal or acceptable.

Definition in Japanese

試験などで不正をしたり、都合の悪い事実を隠したりして、相手の目を欺く。shi ken na do de fu sei o shi ta ri tsu gō no waru i ji jitsu o kaku shi ta ri shi te ai te no me o azamu ku

Word origin

The origin of ごまかす (gomakasu, "to cheat or deceive") is uncertain; a proposed link to 胡麻菓子 (gomagashi, "sesame sweet") remains unconfirmed.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, ごまかす (gomakasu) applies to both cheating on a test and glossing over a problem, while cheat alone does not cover every use.

Other meanings

  • deceiveverb
  • cover upverb

Related words

  • ごまかしgomakashideceptionnoun

Word lists with this word