口実 (kōjitsu: excuse, pretext) mouth + contents, substance
I thought the breakdown might be mouth + facts or mouth + reality, as in a mouth spouting “facts” so as to make excuses. But Halpern has a different take on 実 in 口実, leading to a rather unappealing breakdown—with mouth + contents, substance, 口実 refers to the contents of one’s mouth!
I don’t want to think about that further!
But if we view those contents as verbal, then the breakdown becomes more palatable (aha, as in “the palate”—that’s where that word comes from!).
And now another shift … I’ve found that Halpern defines 口 in 口実 as “to give mouth to” or “to talk.” So we’re safely outside the mouth again!
