借故 (jiè gù) — (adverb) to use a pretext to (do something); to find an excuse to

Definition

Means 'using some excuse or pretext to do (or avoid) something' — the speaker deliberately manufactures a reason. Distinct from 借口, which names the excuse itself or means 'on the pretext of'.

adverb
to use a pretext to (do something)to find an excuse to

Examples

  • 借故，。
    Tā jiè gù shēn tǐ bù shū fu, tí qián lí kāi le huì chǎng.
    He used the pretext of feeling unwell and left the meeting early.
  • 借故，。
    Jīng lǐ jiè gù kāi huì, tuī diào le nà ge fàn jú.
    The manager used the excuse of having a meeting to decline that dinner invitation.
  • 借故，。
    Tā jiè gù shàng cè suǒ, tōu tōu dǎ le ge diàn huà.
    She used the pretext of going to the bathroom to secretly make a phone call.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

借jièborrow or use
故gùreason or excuse

“借” means borrow or use and “故” means reason or excuse, so it means using a pretext.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
昔
昔xī借jiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

借 combines 人, a person, with 昔, which shows the sound.

Open 借 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ故gù
Same sound today

故 uses 古 for the sound and 攵, written in full as 攴, for the meaning.

Open 故 →

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