GRAMMAR
訳あり
with reasons
defective
Explanation
NOTE
訳あり means with reasons — a person or thing has special, often hidden, circumstances behind it.
彼女は訳ありな顔をしていた。
She had a look that suggested some hidden reason.
NOTE
It also means defective — goods sold cheaply because they have a flaw or special circumstance.
この店は訳あり商品を安く売っている。
This shop sells defective goods cheaply.
訳あり商品 (wakeari shouhin) is a common label for discounted imperfect products.
NOTE
訳あり acts like a noun. Use 訳ありの or 訳ありな before another noun.
STRUCTURE
訳あり
の/な +N辞あの二人は訳ありの関係らしい。
Ano futari wa wakeari no kankei rashii.
Those two seem to have a complicated relationship.
訳ありの果物は味は同じだ。
Wakeari no kudamono wa aji wa onaji da.
Defective fruit tastes just the same.
彼は訳ありな様子で黙っていた。
Kare wa wakeari na yousu de damatte ita.
He stayed silent, looking like he had his reasons.
Practice exercises
1
この店では訳ありの商品を売っている。
This shop sells defective goods.
Answer
訳ありの
2
彼は訳ありな様子で部屋を出た。
He left the room looking like he had his reasons.
Answer
訳ありな
3
彼女には訳ありの過去があるそうだ。
I hear she has a past with hidden reasons.
Answer
訳ありの
4
この店は訳あり商品の多さをいいことに、高値で売っていた。
This store, taking advantage of the abundance of defective products, was selling them at high prices.
Answer
訳あり
5
彼が突然会社を辞めたのは、どうやら訳ありらしい。
It seems that he suddenly quit the company for some hidden reason.
Answer
訳あり
6
世間には訳ありの事情を抱えた人も少なくない。
There are quite a few people in the world with complicated reasons behind their circumstances.
Answer
訳あり
7
倉庫に長期保管された訳あり商品は、廃棄されるはめになった。
The defective product, stored long-term in the warehouse, ended up being discarded.
Answer
訳あり
8
割引につられて訳あり品を買ったが、すぐに壊れてしまうしまつだった。
Lured by the discount, I bought a defective item, but it ended up breaking immediately.
Answer
訳あり