Chinese word

含糊其辞

Pronunciation

Pinyinhán hú qí cí

Meaning

  • idiombe evasive

Example

我问他意见，他总是含糊其辞。wǒ wèn tā yì jiàn tā zǒng shì hán hú qí cí

I ask him for his opinion, but he is always evasive.

Illustration for 含糊其辞 (be evasive)

More examples

会议上，他对问题含糊其辞，没有给出明确答复。huì yì shàng tā duì wèn tí hán hú qí cí méi yǒu gěi chū míng què dá fù

At the meeting, he was evasive about the issue and did not give a clear answer.

Core concept

Words that blur the answer so a clear position or fact stays out of reach.

Common phrases

  • 含糊其辞地回答hán hú qí cí dì huí dá

    answer evasively

  • 对问题含糊其辞duì wèn tí hán hú qí cí

    be evasive about the issue

Similar words

含糊其词hán hú qí cí: Using vague words to avoid stating the main point or specific details clearly.
模棱两可mó léng liáng kě: Being so unclear in attitude or wording that a statement can be understood in two different ways.
支支吾吾zhī zhī wú wú: Speaking hesitantly and getting stuck on words instead of giving a clear answer.
吞吞吐吐tūn tūn tú tǔ: Holding back words and speaking in a halting, stammering way without saying things clearly.

Definition in Chinese

用模糊不清的话回答问题，不直接表明立场或事实，常用于推脱或回避责任。yòng mó hú bù qīng de huà huí dá wèn tí bù zhí jiē biǎo míng lì chǎng huò shì shí cháng yòng yú tuī tuō huò huí bì zé rèn

Word origin

含 (hán, "contain") + 糊 (hú, "muddled") form 含糊 (hánhú, "unclear"), and 其 (qí, "that person's") + 辞 (cí, "words") form 其辞 (qící, "those words"), presenting unclear words as an evasive reply.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this idiom is more common in formal writing and serious discussion than in casual talk, so it is especially useful for understanding reports and official statements.

Other meanings

  • answer vaguelyidiom
  • dodge the issueidiom

Opposites

Related words

  • 含糊hán húvagueadjective
  • 含糊不清hán hú bù qīngvague and unclearidiom

Word lists with this word