Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
言い開く (いいひらく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
justify ; explain oneself ; vindicate
Used when someone explains their actions or words to clear up doubts, prove innocence, or show that they were right. Often implies a defensive or clarifying explanation.
なぜ 遅ち 刻こく し た の か 、 きちんと 言い い 開ひら い て ください 。
Please explain yourself properly as to why you were late.
Written forms 言い い 開ひら く
言いい 開ひら く
Less common variant without okurigana.
Similar words 弁べん 解かい する 弁解する is more common for making excuses or defending oneself, while 言い開く has a stronger nuance of clearing up misunderstandings or proving one's point.
正せい 当とう 化か する 正当化する means to justify in a logical or moral sense, often used for abstract ideas. 言い開く is more about verbal explanation in a specific situation.
Etymology Compound of 言い (continuative form of 言う, 'to say') and 開く (hiraku, 'to open'), literally 'to open up by saying'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning of explaining or justifying has been established in Japanese.
