Translation guide
How to express 'use as an excuse' in Japanese, covering common phrases for making excuses, using something as a pretext, and related expressions.
The speaker uses a reason to justify or avoid a situation, often implying the reason may not be the real one.
The most direct translation. '言い訳' means 'excuse', and 'にする' means 'to use as'. It can be used for both genuine and insincere excuses.
彼は病気を言い訳にして会議を休んだ。
He used illness as an excuse to skip the meeting.
Don't use being busy as an excuse.
'口実' means 'pretext' or 'excuse'. This phrase emphasizes using something as a convenient reason, often with a nuance of it not being the true reason.
彼は出張を口実にして浮気をしていた。
He used business trips as a pretext to have an affair.
A more neutral way to say 'use as a reason'. It doesn't necessarily imply the reason is false, but can be used in similar contexts.
天気が悪いのを理由にして出かけるのをやめた。
I used the bad weather as a reason to cancel going out.
The speaker uses a situation or event as a cover to achieve another goal.
A common pattern meaning 'under the pretext of ~'. It is often used when the stated reason hides the real intention.
彼は仕事を口実に家を出た。
He left the house under the pretext of work.
A slightly formal or literary expression meaning 'on the pretext of ~' or 'using ~ as an excuse'. It implies using something as a convenient cover.
彼は出張にかこつけて観光を楽しんだ。
He enjoyed sightseeing under the pretext of a business trip.
Means 'taking advantage of ~' or 'using ~ as a good excuse'. It often carries a negative connotation of exploiting a situation.
彼は親がいないのをいいことに夜遅くまでゲームをした。
He used his parents' absence as an excuse to play games until late at night.
The act of making excuses, often seen as avoiding responsibility.
The verb form meaning 'to make an excuse'. It can be used when someone is justifying their actions, often with a negative nuance.
言い訳するな！
Don't make excuses!
彼はいつも言い訳ばかりしている。
He is always making excuses.
A more formal word for 'justify oneself' or 'explain away'. It is often used in serious contexts like legal or official explanations.
彼は自分の行動を弁解しようとした。
He tried to justify his actions.
Both mean 'excuse', but 言い訳 is a general excuse or justification, while 口実 specifically refers to a pretext used to hide the real reason. 口実 often implies deception.
言い訳は聞きたくない。
I don't want to hear excuses.
それはただの口実だ。
That's just a pretext.
While 'use as an excuse' can be translated as 言い訳として使う, it is more natural to use the patterns 言い訳にする or 口実にする. The verb 使う is not typically used in this context.