Chinese word

找借口

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǎo jiè kǒu

Meaning

  • verbmake excuses

Example

别再为错误找借口，直接承认吧。bié zài wèi cuò wù zhǎo jiè kǒu zhí jiē chéng rèn ba

Stop making excuses for the mistake and just admit it.

Illustration for 找借口 (make excuses)

More examples

不要再给自己找借口，开始行动吧。bú yào zài gěi zì jǐ zhǎo jiè kǒu kāi shǐ xíng dòng ba

Stop making excuses for yourself and start taking action.

Core concept

A reason sought or invented to shift blame away from the real cause.

Common phrases

  • 给自己找借口gěi zì jǐ zhǎo jiè kǒu

    make excuses for yourself

  • 老是找借口lǎo shì zhǎo jiè kǒu

    always make excuses

  • 为失败找借口wèi shī bài zhǎo jiè kǒu

    make excuses for failure

Similar words

找理由zhǎo lǐ yóu: Looking for a convenient reason and using it as an excuse.
推脱tuī tuō: Shifting responsibility or work onto others to avoid it.
逃避táo bì: Avoiding a problem or responsibility instead of facing it.
撒谎sā huǎng: Hiding the truth by saying things that are not true.

Definition in Chinese

为了推脱责任或掩饰真实原因而寻找或捏造理由的行为或动作。wèi le tuī tuō zé rèn huò yǎn shì zhēn shí yuán yīn ér xún zhǎo huò niē zào lǐ yóu de xíng wéi huò dòng zuò

Word origin

找 (zhǎo, "look for") combines with 借口 (jièkǒu, "excuse") to present an excuse as something sought out rather than a genuine explanation.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the phrase is usually critical, so it can sound accusatory when aimed at another person rather than simply describing a reason.

Other meanings

  • find an excuseverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word