Japanese word

訳

Pronunciation

Romajiwake

Meaning

  • nounreason

Example

遅れた訳を話してください。oku re ta wake o hana shi te ku da sa i

Please tell me why you were late.

Illustration for 訳 (reason)

More examples

彼が急に帰ったのには、何か訳があるのです。kare ga kyū ni kae tta no ni wa nan ka wake ga a ru no de su

There must be some reason he went home suddenly.

Core concept

It points to the underlying explanation that makes an event understandable or gives words their sense.

Common phrases

  • 訳があるwake ga a ru

    have a reason

  • 訳を話すwake o hana su

    explain the reason

  • 訳を聞くwake o ki ku

    hear the reason

Similar words

理由riyū: A cause or basis that explains an event, choice, or action.

Definition in Japanese

物事がそうなった事情や理由、または言葉や文の表す意味。mono goto ga sō na tta ji jō ya ri yū ma ta wa koto ba ya bun no arawa su i mi

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 訳 (wake) is commonly connected with 分け (wake), the noun form of 分ける (wakeru, "divide"), while 訳 is the kanji used to write it.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 訳が分からない (wake ga wakaranai) commonly means that the reason or meaning of something is unclear.

Other meanings

  • meaningnoun

Word lists with this word