言い訳・言い分け|いいわけiiwake[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
言い訳言い訳（いいわけ） is the most common and most standard written form; beginners should use it as their default.
言い分け言い分け is rarely used, so beginners should choose 言い訳（いいわけ） instead when writing this word.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbexcuse
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbexplanation
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 言い訳する（いいわけする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 言い訳します（いいわけします） |
| Negative (nai) | 言い訳しない（いいわけしない） |
| polite (masen) | 言い訳しません（いいわけしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 言い訳せず・言い訳せぬ（いいわけせず・いいわけせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 言い訳した（いいわけした） |
| polite (mashita) | 言い訳しました（いいわけしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 言い訳しなかった（いいわけしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 言い訳しませんでした（いいわけしませんでした） |
| Te form | 言い訳して（いいわけして） |
| Potential | 言い訳できる（いいわけできる） |
| Passive | 言い訳される（いいわけされる） |
| Causative | 言い訳させる（いいわけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 言い訳させられる（いいわけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 言い訳すれば（いいわけすれば） |
| tara | 言い訳したら（いいわけしたら） |
| Volitional | 言い訳しよう（いいわけしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 言い訳しましょう（いいわけしましょう） |
| Imperative | 言い訳しろ（いいわけしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym弁解べんかいWrittenA formal defense or explanation of one's actions; leans toward written prose. 「言い訳」 is the everyday spoken word and often implies shifting blame.
- Synonym釈明しゃくめいWrittenA formal explanation of one's position to win understanding; typical of politicians and companies. 「言い訳」 carries a shirking-responsibility nuance.
- Synonym弁明べんめいWrittenExplaining the facts clearly so the other side understands; fairly formal. 「言い訳」 is more colloquial and carries a negative shade.
- Synonym口実こうじつNeutralA reason seized on as a pretext, before or after the fact, as in 「病気を口実に休む」. 「言い訳」 centers on the verbal defense.
- Synonym言い開きいいひらきNeutralClearing oneself by explaining things fully; often in the negative 「言い開きができない」. 「言い訳」 is more colloquial.
- Synonym申し開きもうしひらきFormalA solemn, formal accounting of oneself; often in the negative 「申し開きのしようがない」. 「言い訳」 is the more colloquial choice.
- SynonymエクスキューズNeutralA loanword for 'excuse', occasionally heard in speech. For an excuse, 「言い訳」 is the usual word.
- Related謝罪しゃざいFormalA formal apology: admitting fault rather than explaining it away — the opposite response to 「言い訳」.
- Related陳弁ちんべんWrittenWritten language for laying out a defense; rare. Use 「弁解」 instead in most cases.
- Related託言たくげんWrittenWritten word for a pretext or excuse; rare. 「口実」 is the usual choice.
- RelatedかこつけNeutralUsing something as a pretext; typically in the pattern 「〜にかこつけて」. 「言い訳」 is about the explaining itself.
- Related正当化せいとうかWrittenFraming an action or policy as justified, as in 「暴力を正当化する」; used in judging conduct or policies. 「言い訳」 is about talking one's way out.
- Related弁疏べんそWrittenWritten word for pleading one's case; rare. Use 「弁解」 instead.
- Related自己弁護じこべんごWrittenDefending or excusing oneself; stresses the self-justifying attitude. 「言い訳」 stresses the words actually said.
For explaining away a fault, 「言い訳」 is the default; in speech it often sounds like blame-shifting, as in 「言い訳するな」. For a formal defense use 「弁解」 or 「弁明」; for official explanations by politicians or companies, 「釈明」; for a pretext, 「口実」; for apologizing, 「謝罪」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
