godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Deliberately misleading someone, often for personal gain or to avoid trouble. Covers lying, tricking, and dishonest manipulation.
彼は巧みな話術で客をごまかした。
He deceived the customer with his smooth talk.
あのセールスマンにごまかされて、高い掃除機を買わされた。
I was tricked by that salesman into buying an expensive vacuum cleaner.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Manipulating records, numbers, or data to hide the truth. Common with accounts, reports, and test results.
経理部長が帳簿をごまかしていたことが発覚した。
It was discovered that the accounting manager had been falsifying the books.
実験データをごまかすのは科学者として許されない。
Falsifying experimental data is unforgivable for a scientist.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Avoiding a direct answer, sidestepping an issue, or making a mistake seem less serious. Often used with questions, taxes, or awkward situations.
彼は都合の悪い質問を笑ってごまかした。
He laughed off the awkward question.
ミスをごまかそうとして、かえって状況を悪くした。
Trying to gloss over the mistake only made things worse.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Stealing money that one is entrusted with, typically in a workplace or organizational setting.
彼は会社の金をごまかして逮捕された。
He was arrested for embezzling company funds.
売上金を少しずつごまかしていたらしい。
Apparently he was pocketing the sales proceeds little by little.