口実

• Reading: こうじつ
• Romaji: koujitsu
• Kanji breakdown: 口 (kō) — mouth, opening; 実 (jitsu) — truth, fruit, reality
• Pronunciation: /koː.dʑi.tsɯ/

Meaning

Excuse; pretext. A reason given to justify an action, often not the true reason.

A noun with a somewhat negative connotation, implying that the stated reason is not genuine but rather a convenient justification. Unlike 言い訳 (excuse/explanation after the fact), 口実 is typically a pretext prepared in advance or seized upon. Common phrases: 口実を設ける (to create a pretext), 口実にする (to use as an excuse), 口実を与える (to give someone an excuse).

Examples

1. 体調不良を口実にして会議を欠席した。 He used feeling sick as a pretext to skip the meeting.
2. 彼はちょっとした失敗を口実にチームから外された。 He was removed from the team on the pretext of a minor mistake.
3. 残業を口実に飲みに行くのはやめてほしい。 Please stop using overtime as an excuse to go out drinking.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal, workplace, daily life

Tone: skeptical

Origin & History

Compound of 口 (mouth, opening) + 実 (truth, fruit, reality). Paradoxically, the combination means something spoken as truth that may not be genuine — a stated reality.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal