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Japanese Versatility List

Lies and getting caught

Core words, Stage 3chunk 17 of 76Verbs: trouble and conflict

Lets you talk about tricking, stealing, covering up and getting caught.

Mix-ups tsukamaru (get caught) vs tsukamaeru (catch someone).

bareru

polite baremasu

get found out; come out

Informal; a secret, lie or trick coming out.

The person who finds out takes ni: oya ni bareta (my parents found out).

casual

yabai, kanojo ni bareta.

Uh oh, my girlfriend found out.

やばい、彼女にバレた。

polite

kanojo ni barete shimaimashita.

My girlfriend found out.

彼女にバレてしまいました。

Written バレる · ばれる · バレますRank #828 in 3,030 TV dramas

damasu

polite damashimasu

trick; deceive; con

Fooling someone, from a prank to fraud; the passive damasareta (I got tricked) is very common.

Telling a lie is uso o tsuku.

casual

damasareta! zenbu uso datta n da.

I got tricked! It was all lies.

だまされた！全部うそだったんだ。

polite

damasaremashita. zenbu uso datta n desu.

I was tricked. It was all lies.

だまされました。全部うそだったんです。

Written だます · だましますRank #1070 in 3,030 TV dramas

tsukamaru

polite tsukamarimasu

get caught; get arrested; hold on to

Being caught by the police or someone chasing you; also grabbing hold: tsurikawa ni tsukamaru (hold the strap).

tsukamaeru is 'catch' (someone catches you). Also 'reach someone': kare ni tsukamaranai (I can't get hold of him).

casual

hannin, yatto tsukamatta tte.

I heard they finally caught the guy who did it.

犯人、やっと捕まったって。

polite

hannin ga yatto tsukamatta sou desu.

I hear the culprit has finally been caught.

犯人がやっと捕まったそうです。

Written 捕まる · つかまる · 捕まりますRank #1406 in 3,030 TV dramas

nusumu

polite nusumimasu

steal

For 'had X stolen', use the passive: X o nusumareta.

A thief is dorobou.

casual

densha de saifu nusumareta!

Someone stole my wallet on the train!

電車で財布盗まれた！

polite

densha de saifu o nusumaremashita.

My wallet was stolen on the train.

電車で財布を盗まれました。

Written 盗む · ぬすむ · 盗みますRank #1511 in 3,030 TV dramas

gomakasu

polite gomakashimasu

cover up; dodge; fudge

Dodging the truth by laughing it off, changing the subject or fudging the numbers.

warai de gomakasu: laugh it off. Milder than damasu.

casual

gomakasanai de, chanto kotaete.

Don't dodge it, give me a straight answer.

ごまかさないで、ちゃんと答えて。

polite

gomakasanai de, chanto kotaete kudasai.

Please don't dodge it, give me a straight answer.

ごまかさないで、ちゃんと答えてください。

Written ごまかす · ごまかしますRank #1820 in 3,030 TV dramas