use as an excuse; on the pretext of (n.)
HSK 5
Traditional
借口 (unaltered)
Radicals
Stroke order
Examples
他总是找各种借口来逃避工作。 tā zǒngshì zhǎo gèzhǒng jièkǒu lái táobì gōngzuò. - He always finds various excuses to avoid work.
她用生病作为借口来请假。 tā yòng shēngbìng zuòwéi jièkǒu lái qǐngjià. - She used being sick as an excuse to take leave.
你不应该找借口不完成任务。 nǐ bù yīnggāi zhǎo jièkǒu bù wánchéng rènwù. - You should not make excuses for not completing the task.
他借口有事先走了。 tā jièkǒu yǒushì xiān zǒu le. - He excused himself with an errand and left early.
别总是找借口，直接说实话吧。 bié zǒngshì zhǎo jièkǒu, zhíjiē shuō shíhuà ba. - Stop making excuses and just tell the truth.
Characters
借 jiè - to lend | HSK 3
口 kǒu - mouth; [measure word for family members] | HSK 3