〜にかこつけて (~ni kakotsukete) — on the pretext of ~
One reason on the surface, the real wish underneath — 'using ~ as an excuse'.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
A senior at your office goes to Hokkaido 'for work' every month, yet always comes back with photos of hot springs and seafood. Colleagues smile and say: 「出張にかこつけて、温泉を楽しんでいるんだよ」.
Meaning
- That is the feeling of 「〜にかこつけて」: making N the reason you show the world (an excuse) while really doing what you want.
- With 「かこつけて」the outside reason is only a curtain — so it carries a note of criticism or teasing, and when you say it about yourself, a little embarrassment at being sly.
How to attach
- Attach 「にかこつけて」after a noun (仕事・出張・体調不良・子どもの勉強).
- What follows is the thing the person really wanted to do.
Versus what you know
N3With the 「〜ついでに」both things genuinely happen and nothing is hidden (買い物のついでに銀行へ), and with Lesson 9's 「〜をかねて」both purposes are open too.
Watch out
Key rule: if the reason is real and is the actual purpose (治療にかこつけて治療を受ける), it doesn't fit, and it is never used to praise anyone.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
部長は出張にかこつけて、毎回温泉を楽しんでいる。
ぶちょうはしゅっちょうにかこつけて、まいかいおんせんをたのしんでいる。
The department head uses business trips as an excuse to enjoy hot springs every time.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 出張 = a business trip (the reason shown on the outside, N) → 「にかこつけて」= using it as an excuse → then the real wish: 温泉を楽しんでいる = enjoying the hot springs.
彼は体調不良にかこつけて、面倒な飲み会を断った。
かれはたいちょうふりょうにかこつけて、めんどうなのみかいをことわった。
He used feeling unwell as an excuse to turn down the tiresome drinking party.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 体調不良 = feeling unwell (the excuse, N) → 「にかこつけて」 → then the real wish: 飲み会を断った = skipping the party (he really didn't want to go).
父は子どもの勉強にかこつけて、自分が欲しかったパソコンを買った。
ちちはこどものべんきょうにかこつけて、じぶんがほしかったパソコンをかった。
Dad used the kids' studies as an excuse to buy the computer he himself had wanted.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 子どもの勉強 = the kids' studies (the outward reason, N) → 「にかこつけて」 → then the real wish: 自分が欲しかったパソコン = the computer he himself wanted.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「取材＿＿かこつけて、有名なラーメン店を食べ歩いた。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Which particle comes before 「かこつける」?
N + にかこつけて. 取材にかこつけて = on the pretext of news coverage. 「を・と・で」don't attach here.
In which sentence is 「にかこつけて」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Are the shown reason and the real purpose different, or the same?
かこつけて = one excuse, a different real wish. Getting treatment at hospital for an injury is the real reason itself — not an excuse — so it doesn't fit.
'Hiding the real purpose behind another reason' — which one?
💡 Hint: In which one is something hidden?
にかこつけて = using it as an excuse. With ついでに and をかねて both aims are open; に際して = on the occasion of, with no sense of excuse.
Your score: /3