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借口

jiè kǒu
个 gè
HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Noun Common

Definitions

  1. 1. to use as an excuse
  2. 2. excuse; pretext

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item
辩解
biàn jiě

to explain

为某事进行辩护或找理由，常含“借口”的意味。

Synonyms

1 item
托词
tuō cí

to make an excuse

指故意找借口推脱。

Usage notes

Common mistakes

“借口”是名词，“借”不能与宾语直接搭配，不能说“我借口很忙”。

Grammar

Guides that feature 借口

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1 guide
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 8 min
Limiting with 无非 and 不过

Use 无非 and 不过 to say what something amounts to, often with a skeptical tone.

Reading: jiè kǒu Open guide

Example Sentences

2 shown
他总是找 借口 不来开会。
He always finds an excuse not to come to the meeting.
他编造了一个 借口 ，没有去开会。
He made up an excuse and didn't go to the meeting.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 借口

以免借口
yǐ miǎn jiè kǒu

to remove sth that could be used as a pretext (idiom)

找借口
zhǎo jiè kǒu

to look for a pretext

Child Words of 借口

借
jiè

to lend

口
kǒu

mouth