plausible but untrue; specious; seemingly truthful
Describes a statement, story, or claim that sounds believable but is actually false or deceptive. Often used with words like 嘘 (lie), 話 (story), or 言い訳 (excuse).
He told a plausible lie.
The story sounded credible, but it was all made up.
The word is usually written in kana; the kanji forms are rare.
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
Derived from 真 (まこと, truth) + しやか, a suffix that adds a sense of 'seeming' or 'appearing'. The exact origin of しやか is uncertain, but it may be related to the classical auxiliary し (emphatic) and やか (adjectival suffix).