Translation guide
To dismiss or minimize something (a problem, mistake, feeling, etc.) by giving an explanation, often in a way that seems evasive or unconvincing.
He explained away his mistake.
To make a problem, error, or criticism seem less important or valid by offering an explanation, often in a defensive or evasive manner.
Literally 'to make an excuse'. This is the most direct and common way to express explaining something away in a defensive sense.
He explained away his lateness.
Please stop explaining away your mistakes.
Means to deceive, gloss over, or cover up. Used when someone tries to explain something away in a dishonest or evasive way.
To make something vague or unclear, often to avoid taking responsibility. Implies explaining away by muddying the waters.
Don't try to explain away the problem.
To evade by talking, to explain away in a slippery manner. More formal and less common in daily conversation.
He's always explaining things away.
To reduce the perceived importance of an emotion, worry, or objection by providing a logical-sounding explanation.
To attach a reason or logic to something, often to justify or explain it away. Used for rationalizing feelings or actions.
She tried to explain away her anxiety.
To rationalize. A more formal term, often used in psychological contexts. Implies explaining away by making something seem reasonable.
To dismiss something as just one's imagination. Used when explaining away a feeling or suspicion by attributing it to overthinking.
To offer an alternative interpretation of facts or evidence to make them seem less damaging or significant.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'explain away'. Using 説明する (explain) alone does not convey the dismissive or evasive nuance. Choose a phrase that matches the intent: making excuses, rationalizing, or covering up.
言い訳をする is the standard way to say 'make an excuse', which is often equivalent to 'explain away' in defensive contexts. ごまかす implies a more active attempt to deceive or gloss over, and is stronger in tone.
彼は自分の失敗をごまかそうとした。
He tried to explain away his failure.
He rationalized (explained away) his behavior.
He explained away the strange feeling as just his imagination.
He tried to explain away the evidence.