Translation guide
The English verb 'plead' has several distinct uses: begging earnestly, making a legal plea, or giving an excuse. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To ask for something in a serious, emotional, or desperate way.
Formal and strong, used when pleading with someone in a serious situation.
He pleaded for help.
To declare one's guilt or innocence in a legal setting.
Standard legal phrasing: 'at arraignment, answer ~'. Fill with 有罪 (guilty) or 無罪 (not guilty).
To offer a reason or excuse, often to avoid blame.
Often used for petitions or public appeals, slightly more formal than 懇願.
The residents pleaded with the city to repair the road.
Literally 'ask desperately', a common way to express pleading in everyday speech.
She pleaded desperately, but they wouldn't listen.
A colloquial way to plead, like 'Please, I'm begging you'. Often used before a request.
Please, I'm begging you, give me one more chance.
The defendant pleaded not guilty at the arraignment.
General term for asserting a plea, e.g., 無罪を主張する (plead not guilty).
He pleaded not guilty.
He pleaded tiredness and skipped work.
To blame something, often used when pleading ignorance or circumstances.
He pleaded that it was someone else's fault he didn't know.