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言い逃れ (いいのがれ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
evasion ; excuse ; subterfuge
Refers to the act of dodging responsibility or avoiding a direct answer by making excuses or using evasive words. Often used in contexts of accountability, questioning, or blame.
言い
い
逃のが
れ
を
せ
ず
に
、
正しょう
直じき
に
答こた
え
て
ください
。
Please answer honestly without making excuses.
Written forms 言い い 逃のが れ Usage 90%
Standard spelling with okurigana; common in news and everyday writing.
いいのがれ Usage 9%
言い い 逃の がれ Usage 1%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; the extra が is non-standard and rarely used.
言いい 逃のが れ
Less common variant without the first okurigana い; still seen but less frequent.
Similar words 言い い 訳わけ 言い訳 is a more common word for 'excuse' or 'justification', often used in everyday situations. 言い逃れ implies a more deliberate attempt to dodge or evade, sometimes with a negative connotation of shirking responsibility.
逃に げ 口こう 上じょう 逃げ口上 is a more literary or old-fashioned term for an evasive excuse or pretext, similar in meaning but less common in modern speech.
Etymology Compound of 言い (the continuative form of 言う 'to say') and 逃れ (the continuative form of 逃れる 'to escape, evade'), literally 'saying to escape'. The meaning of verbal evasion developed naturally from these components.
