嘘

• Reading: うそ
• Romaji: uso
• Kanji breakdown: 嘘 (kyo/uso) — lie, falsehood, empty words
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.so/

Meaning

Lie; fib; falsehood. Something said that is not true, either to deceive or in disbelief.

Primarily a noun. Very commonly used as an exclamation — 嘘! or 嘘でしょ! means 'No way!' or 'You are kidding!' without accusing anyone of lying. Also appears in 嘘をつく (to tell a lie) and 嘘つき (liar). Context determines whether it expresses genuine accusation or casual surprise.

Examples

1. 嘘をつくのはよくないことだ。 Telling lies is not a good thing.
2. 試験に受かったと聞いて、嘘でしょと言った。 When I heard I passed the exam, I said, 'No way!
3. あの話は嘘だったことがわかった。 It turned out that story was a lie.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, social situations, family

Tone: informal

Origin & History

The kanji 嘘 combines 口 (mouth) and 虚 (empty/void). Literally means empty words from the mouth — words without truth or substance.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal