Korean word

변명하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationpyeonmyeonghada

Meaning

  • verbmake excuses

Example

회의에서 변명하려고 하지 마세요.hoe ui e seo pyeon myeong ha ryeo go ha ji ma se yo

Don't try to make excuses during the meeting.

Illustration for 변명하다 (make excuses)

More examples

실수에 대해 변명하지 않고 사과했다.sil su e tae hae pyeon myeong ha ji an ko sa gwa haet tta

He apologized for his mistake without making excuses.

Core concept

Explaining away a fault rather than openly accepting responsibility for it.

Common phrases

  • 변명하지 마pyeon myeong ha ji ma

    don't make excuses

  • 변명하고 넘어가다pyeon myeong ha go neo meo ga da

    make excuses and move on

  • 변명하느라 시간을 낭비하다pyeon myeong ha neu ra si ga neul nang bi ha da

    waste time making excuses

Similar words

핑계대다pinggyedaeda: To point to a convenient reason as a way to avoid blame for an action.
둘러대다tulleodaeda: To answer indirectly with a temporary excuse when a clear answer is expected.
해명하다haemyeonghada: To clarify a situation by explaining its facts and circumstances.

Definition in Korean

잘못이나 비판을 받을 때 책임을 피하려고 이유를 늘어놓거나 자기 행동을 옹호하는 것을 가리킨다.chal mo si na pi pa neul pa deul ttae chae gi meul pi ha ryeo go i yu reul neu reo no keo na cha gi haeng dong eul ong ho ha neun keo seul ka ri kin da

Word origin

The noun 변명 (byeonmyeong, "a defense or explanation") combines with 하다 (hada, "to do") to form a verb meaning to make excuses or defend one's actions.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, using this word about another person's explanation can sound accusatory, so it is safest when the explanation clearly avoids responsibility.

Other meanings

  • defend oneselfverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word