い
言
　
い
つくろ
繕
　
う

Godan verb, transitive verb

  1. to explain away (a mistake, failure, etc.), to make excuses for, to gloss over, to talk one's way out of.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
い
言
　
い
つくろ
繕
　
う
 言い繕う いいつくろう
い
言
　
い
　
つ
　
く
　
ろ
　
う
 言いつくろう いいつくろう
いい
言
つくろ
繕
　
う
 言繕う いいつくろう

Contained Kanji Breakdown

say, word
い.う　こと　ゲン (2nd, N4)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
darning, repair, mend
つくろ.う　ゼン (Late Jr. High, N1)
thread
いと　シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ　ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
virtuous, good, goodness
ゼン　よ.い　よし.とする (6th, N1)
sheep
ひつじ　ヨウ　よ (3rd, N1)
to divide
king, rule, magnate
オウ　-ノウ　おお (1st, N3)
grass, straw, herbs
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)