糊塗する

• Reading: ことする
• Romaji: kotosuru
• Kanji breakdown: 糊 (ko/nori) — glue, paste; 塗 (to/nu) — to paint, coat
• Pronunciation: /ko.to.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To gloss over; to cover up; to whitewash; to paper over defects or wrongdoing with superficial fixes.

A Group 3 (suru-verb) compound. Literally combines 糊 (glue or paste) and 塗 (to coat or apply), suggesting smearing paste over cracks to hide them. Used in formal and journalistic contexts to criticise the concealment of problems, errors, or wrongdoing behind cosmetic language or superficial measures. A hallmark expression in political and bureaucratic criticism.

Examples

1. 政府は不祥事を糊塗するような声明を出すべきではない。 The government should not issue statements that whitewash the scandal.
2. 表面上の改善で問題を糊塗しても、根本的な解決にはならない。 Papering over the problem with superficial improvements won't lead to a real solution.
3. 彼の言い訳は事実を糊塗しようとする試みに過ぎなかった。 His excuse was nothing more than an attempt to gloss over the facts.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, bureaucracy, journalism, criticism

Tone: critical

Origin & History

糊 (glue or paste) + 塗 (to coat). The image is of spreading paste over imperfections to conceal them from view — a vivid metaphor for cosmetic fixes that hide rather than solve underlying problems.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Elite