辞じ柄へい

noun

pretext; excuse

A formal or literary term for a stated reason that masks the real motive. Rare in modern everyday Japanese; more common equivalents include 口実 (こうじつ) or 言い訳 (いいわけ).

• 彼かれは辞じ柄へいを設もうけて会かい合ごうを欠けっ席せきした。

  He made an excuse and was absent from the meeting.