言い訳する · noun or participle which takes 'suru'
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 言い訳する | 言い訳しない |
| Polite | 言い訳します | 言い訳しません |
| Past polite | 言い訳しました | 言い訳しませんでした |
| Past | 言い訳した | 言い訳しなかった |
| Te-form | 言い訳して | 言い訳しないで |
| Desire | 言い訳したい | 言い訳したくない |
| Potential | 言い訳できる | 言い訳できない |
| Passive | 言い訳される | 言い訳されない |
| Causative | 言い訳させる | 言い訳させない |
| Causative passive | 言い訳させられる | 言い訳させられない |
| Volitional | 言い訳しよう | |
| Polite volitional | 言い訳しましょう | |
| Imperative | 言い訳しろ | 言い訳するな |
| Conditional | 言い訳すれば | 言い訳しなければ |
| Tara conditional | 言い訳したら | 言い訳しなかったら |
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb
Often negative: a reason given to avoid blame or responsibility. Common as 言い訳をする, 言い訳する, and 言い訳にする.
Don't make excuses for being late.
He used being busy as an excuse and didn't submit his homework.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb
A reason or account offered to explain one's actions or situation; still often has a defensive or apologetic tone, unlike the fully neutral 理由 or 説明.
After hearing her explanation, I understood the situation a little.
If you have an explanation, please say it here now.
He used being busy as an excuse for not getting in touch.
He made excuses to his boss for being late.
While he was thinking up an excuse for being late, even more time passed.
He always just makes excuses and never reflects on his mistakes.
言い訳 is a casual excuse for a small fault, while 弁明 is a formal, reasoned justification often used in serious or official contexts.
言い訳 looks similar to 言い換え but means 'excuse,' not 'rephrasing.'
言い訳 is an excuse or justification for one's own behavior, while 言いがかり is a false accusation leveled at someone else, and the similar-looking kanji often trips up learners.
This no-okurigana spelling is search-only; use 言い訳 in normal writing.
It is a rarely used kanji form; prefer 言い訳 in ordinary writing.