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GRAMMAR
〜に託けて
using the excuse of
Explanation
NOTE

〜に託けて means using the excuse of — doing something while blaming another reason for it.

仕事しごとに託かこつけて外出がいしゅつした。
I went out using work as an excuse.
NOTE

It is formal and a bit literary. The real reason is the speaker's true desire, hidden behind the stated excuse.

病気びょうきに託かこつけて会議かいぎを休やすんだ。
He skipped the meeting using illness as an excuse.
The illness is presented as the reason, but the real motive is wanting to rest.
NOTE

Attach に託けて directly to a noun naming the excuse or occasion being used.

STRUCTURE
N辞
に託けて
誕生日たんじょうびに託かこつけて高たかい物ものを買かった。
Tanjoubi ni kakotsukete takai mono o katta.
I bought something expensive using my birthday as an excuse.
出張しゅっちょうに託かこつけて観光かんこうを楽たのしんだ。
Shucchou ni kakotsukete kankou o tanoshinda.
He enjoyed sightseeing using a business trip as an excuse.
勉強べんきょうに託かこつけて夜よる遅おそくまで起おきていた。
Benkyou ni kakotsukete yoru osoku made okite ita.
She stayed up late using studying as an excuse.
取材しゅざい旅行りょこうに託にかこつけて、温泉おんせんに行いく。計画けいかくを立たてています。
Shuzai ryoko ni kakotsukete, onsen ni iku keikaku o tatete imasu.
I am planning to go to a hot spring, using a business trip for a feature story as an excuse.
仕事しごとの相談そうだんに託にかこつけて、彼かれを食事しょくじに誘さそいました。
Shigoto no sodan ni kakotsukete, kare o shokuji ni sasoimashita.
I invited him to a meal, using a work consultation as an excuse.
子供こどもの遠足えんそくに託にかこつけて、自分じぶんも遊園地ゆうえんちを楽たのしみます。
Kodomo no ensoku ni kakotsukete, jibun mo yuenchi o tanoshimimasu.
Using my child's field trip as an excuse, I will enjoy the amusement park too.

Practice exercises

1
仕事しごとに託かこつけて外出がいしゅつした。
I went out using work as an excuse.
Answer
に託かこつけて
2
誕生日たんじょうびに託かこつけて高たかい物ものを買かった。
I bought something expensive using my birthday as an excuse.
Answer
に託かこつけて
3
出張しゅっちょうに託かこつけて観光かんこうを楽たのしんだ。
He enjoyed sightseeing using a business trip as an excuse.
Answer
に託かこつけて
4
彼かれは病気びょうきに託たくけて、仕事しごとを休やすんだ始末しまつだ。
He ended up taking a day off from work, using illness as an excuse.
Answer
に託たくけて
5
彼女かのじょは残業ざんぎょうに託たくけて、恋人こいびとと会あっていた。
She was meeting her lover, using overtime as an excuse.
Answer
に託たくけて
6
彼かれは仕事しごとに託たくけて、遊あそびすぎる嫌きらいがある。
He has a tendency to play too much, using work as an excuse.
Answer
に託たくけて
7
彼かれは視察しさつに託たくけて、旧友きゅうゆうとの再会さいかいを楽たのしんでいた。
He was enjoying reuniting with old friends, using an inspection as an excuse.
Answer
に託たくけて
8
政治家せいじかは社会貢献しゃかいこうけんに託たくけて、自身じしんの利益りえきを図はかろうとした。
The politician tried to pursue his own interests, using social contribution as an excuse.
Answer
に託たくけて