Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "お邪魔します", "言い訳", "弁解", "免じる"
All represent the core concept "excuse", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
お邪魔します
おじゃまします (ojamashimasu)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
言い訳
いいわけ (iiwake)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
弁解
べんかい (benkai)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
免じる
めんじる (menjiru)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "excuse" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "お邪魔します", "言い訳", "弁解", "免じる" based on context.
- お邪魔します (おじゃまします (ojamashimasu) - Level: N3): Maps to "Excuse me for disturbing; (polite phrase used when entering someone's home/office)" and is used when A polite, set phrase used when visiting someone's home or office, expressing apology for imposing on their space. 主に家や部屋に入る際に言います。.
- 言い訳 (いいわけ (iiwake) - Level: N3): Maps to "excuse, explanation" and is used when Often used for giving reasons to avoid responsibility or for a minor mistake. Can have a negative connotation..
- 弁解 (べんかい (benkai) - Level: N3): Maps to "excuse; explanation; justification; defense" and is used when Refers to making excuses, explaining one's actions to avoid blame, or defending oneself. Often used as 弁解する.
- 免じる (めんじる (menjiru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to excuse, to exempt, to remit, to forgive" and is used when A somewhat formal verb. Often used in contexts of excusing someone from a duty, forgiving a fault, or remitting a punishment/fine.
Context for "お邪魔します"
友達の家を訪ねるとき、ドアを開けて「お邪魔します」と言いました。
When visiting a friend's house, I opened the door and said 'Ojamashimasu'.
Context for "言い訳"
彼はいつも言い訳ばかりしている。
He's always making excuses.
Context for "弁解"
どれだけ見苦しい_______を重ねても、犯したミスが消えるわけではありません。
No matter how many unsightly excuses you pile up, the mistake you made will not disappear.
Context for "免じる"
今回は特別に失敗を免じてあげよう。
I will make an exception and forgive your mistake this time.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達の家を訪ねるとき、ドアを開けて「 ＿＿＿ 」と言いました。" (Meaning: "When visiting a friend's house, I opened the door and said 'Ojamashimasu'.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "お邪魔します" is correct here because it represents "Excuse me for disturbing; (polite phrase used when entering someone's home/office)" in the context: "When visiting a friend's house, I opened the door and said 'Ojamashimasu'.".