1.
fabricated story, made-up tale, fiction
A story that is invented or made up rather than based on fact. Often carries a negative nuance suggesting deception or lying.
それは作り話だろう。
That's a made-up story, isn't it.
子供が作り話をしているのはすぐわかった。
I could tell right away that the child was making up a story.
あの噂は全て作り話だったことが後で判明した。
It was later revealed that all those rumors were fabricated stories.
Compound of 作る (to make) + 話 (story), with rendaku changing はなし to ばなし. Usually implies the story is meant to deceive, unlike 物語 (tale, narrative) or フィクション (fiction), which are neutral terms for creative works.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 作り話をする (make up a story, tell a lie)
- 全くの作り話 (a complete fabrication)
- 作り話だと見抜く (see through a made-up story)