Meaning and Usage
"うそ" means "lie" or "falsehood" in Japanese. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation to refer to statements that are not true.
Common Contexts
People use "うそ" when accusing someone of lying, talking about dishonesty, or expressing disbelief.
Collocations and Patterns
- うそをつく: to tell a lie
- うそでしょう？: Isn't that a lie? (used to express doubt or surprise)
- うそだ！: That's a lie! (strong denial or disbelief)
Register and Nuance
"うそ" is informal and used in casual to neutral contexts. It can be softened or intensified depending on the sentence ending or tone.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "うそ" with "ほんとう" (truth). Remember that "うそ" always refers to something false or untrue.