「〜にかこつけて」- Using Something as an Excuse

Explanation

〜にかこつけて is a Japanese grammatical structure used to indicate that someone is using a certain reason or excuse to carry out an action. It is pronounced as 「にかこつけて」 and is primarily used to express the idea of using a pretext to conceal the true motive. This grammar point is often used to criticize someone for taking advantage of an excuse to do something inappropriate.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
〜にかこつけて	Noun/Plain form of a sentence + にかこつけて	Indicates that someone is using a certain reason or excuse as a pretext to carry out an action. The reason or excuse is often superficial, while the true motive is different.

Basic Usage and Detailed Explanation

The basic usage of 〜にかこつけて is to indicate that someone is using a certain reason or excuse as a pretext to carry out an action. The reason or excuse is often superficial, while the true motive is different.

Examples

• 彼かれらは成功せいこうするかどうかにかこつけて、そのチャンスをつかうか悩なやんでいる。
• Karera wa seikou suru ka dou ka ni kakotsukete, sono chansu o tsukau ka nayandeiru.
• Using whether they will succeed as an excuse, they are hesitating whether to take that opportunity.
  

• 誕生日たんじょうびにかこつけてパーティーぱーてぃーを開ひらく。
• Tanjoubi ni kakotsukete paatii o hiraku.
• Using their birthday as an excuse, they are throwing a party.
  

• 出張しゅっちょうにかこつけて観光かんこうする。
• Shucchou ni kakotsukete kankou suru.
• Using a business trip as an excuse, they are going sightseeing.
  

• 暴動ぼうどうにかこつけて店みせから物ものを盗ぬすむ。
• Boudou ni kakotsukete mise kara mono o nusumu.
• Using the riot as an excuse, they are stealing from the store.
  

Example Analysis

Application in Real-Life Scenarios

1. Family Scenario:
   • 彼かれは仕事しごとにかこつけて、毎晩まいばん遅おそく帰かえってくる。
   • Kare wa shigoto ni kakotsukete, maiban osoku kaette kuru.
   • Using work as an excuse, he comes home late every night.
     

2. Workplace Scenario:
   • 上司じょうしは会議かいぎにかこつけて、いつも部下ぶかを叱しかる。
   • Joushi wa kaigi ni kakotsukete, itsumo buka o shikaru.
   • Using meetings as an excuse, the boss always scolds the subordinates.
     

3. Among Friends:
   • 彼女かのじょは誕生日たんじょうびにかこつけて、彼氏かれしに高価こうかなプレゼントぷれぜんとをねだる。
   • Kanojo wa tanjoubi ni kakotsukete, kareshi ni kouka na purezento o nedaru.
   • Using her birthday as an excuse, she asks her boyfriend for expensive gifts.
     

Other Real-Life Scenarios

• 彼かれはやたらとお祝いわいようというが、本当ほんとうのところはただ単たんにお祝いわいにかこつけて酒さけが飲のみたいだけなんだろう。
• Kare wa yatara to oiwai you to iu ga, hontou no tokoro wa tada tan ni oiwai ni kakotsukete sake ga nomitai dake nan darou.
• He keeps saying he wants to celebrate, but in reality, he just wants to use the celebration as an excuse to drink.
  

• 先日せんじつ、大阪おおさかに住すむ叔母おばのお見舞みまいにかこつけて、大阪観光おおさかかんこうを楽したのんできた。
• Senjitsu, Oosaka ni sumu oba no omimai ni kakotsukete, Oosaka kankou o tanoshinde kita.
• The other day, using the excuse of visiting my aunt in Osaka, I enjoyed sightseeing in Osaka.
  

• 取材しゅざいにかこつけて、自分じぶんの会あいたい人ひとに会あうことができるというのは記者きしゃという仕事しごとのメリットだ。
• Shuzai ni kakotsukete, jibun no aitai hito ni au koto ga dekiru to iu no wa kisha to iu shigoto no meritto da.
• One of the perks of being a journalist is that you can use interviews as an excuse to meet people you want to see.
  

Common Mistakes

• Mistake 1: Using 〜にかこつけて for all situations involving excuses.
  This grammar is only used for negative or inappropriate excuses, not all excuses.

• Mistake 2: Confusing 〜にかこつけて with 「〜を口実に」.
  〜にかこつけて is more commonly used in spoken language, while 「〜を口実に」 is more suitable for formal contexts.

Summary

〜にかこつけて is a highly practical grammar point used to express the idea of using a certain reason or excuse to carry out an action. Mastering this structure can make your expressions richer and more accurate in both everyday conversations and writing.