How to say "justification" in Japanese

• 弁解べんかいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers justifying oneself after being blamed — an explanation or excuse defending one's own conduct. It carries a defensive, sometimes apologetic nuance, typical in everyday disputes about behavior.
  その失策しっさくには弁解べんかいの余地よちがない。↗

  This fault admits of no excuse.
• 合理化ごうりかCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbUsed when something is made to conform to reason, especially rationalizing a decision or expense to oneself or others. It suggests a logical justification rather than an emotional excuse.
• 大義名分たいぎめいぶんCommon
  nounRefers to a just cause or good reason that legitimizes an action before others — a public, principled justification. As a yojijukugo, it suits debates over war, policy, or organizational decisions; it can shade into mere pretext.
  ロブソンの提案ていあんは、大義名分たいぎめいぶんがあるからといってテロリストを擁護ようごするようなものである。↗

  Robson's proposal is tantamount to defending terrorists because they have a cause.
• 名分めいぶんCommon
  nounCovers a justification or just cause grounded in one's position or role — grounds for acting that others must accept. It is more abstract than 弁解 and often overlaps with 大義名分, including in the 'pretext' sense.
• 盾たてJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA shield-like justification: grounds used to fend off criticism, as in the pattern 盾にして 'using … as a pretext'. For plain 'justification' it is marginal — it is really the word for a convenient excuse or shield.

For self-justification of one's actions choose 弁解; for logical rationalization choose 合理化; for a moral or official justification choose 大義名分 or 名分; for a shield-like pretext choose 盾.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 弁解べんかいexplanation (e.g. for one's actions)
• 合理化ごうりかrationalization
• 大義名分たいぎめいぶんjust cause
• 義認ぎにんjustification (by faith)
• ジャスティフィケーションjustification
• 正当化せいとうかjustification
• 位置調整いちちょうせいjustification
• 申し開きもうしひらきexcuse
• 位置合わせいちあわせalignment
• 位置揃えいちぞろえalignment
• 言い開きいいひらきexcuse
• 行揃えぎょうぞろえalignment
• 理由付けりゆうづけrationalization
• 名義めいぎjustification
• 因縁いんねんpretext
• 名分めいぶんjustification
• 盾たてpretext
• 免罪符めんざいふexcuse
• 名なpretext