Chinese word

归咎

Pronunciation

Pinyinguī jiù

Meaning

  • verbblame

Example

很多人喜欢把问题归咎于环境。hěn duō rén xǐ huān bǎ wèn tí guī jiù yú huán jìng

Many people like to blame the problem on the environment.

Illustration for 归咎 (blame)

More examples

老板把项目延期归咎于团队沟通不畅。láo bǎn bǎ xiàng mù yán qī guī jiù yú tuán duì gōu tōng bú chàng

The boss blamed the project's delay on poor team communication.

Core concept

Transfer the weight of a mistake or harmful result from one place of responsibility to another.

Common phrases

  • 把责任归咎于别人bǎ zé rèn guī jiù yú bié rén

    hold others responsible

  • 把问题归咎于环境bǎ wèn tí guī jiù yú huán jìng

    blame the problem on the environment

  • 被归咎于bèi guī jiù yú

    be blamed on

Similar words

责怪zé guài: Hold someone responsible for a mistake or for behavior that causes anger or displeasure.
指责zhǐ zé: Use strong words to condemn someone's actions or attitude.
推卸tuī xiè: Pass responsibility for one's own mistake to someone else to avoid blame.

Definition in Chinese

将责任、错误或不良后果归咎于他人或某事，含有推卸或责备的成分。jiāng zé rèn cuò wù huò bù liáng hòu guǒ guī jiù yú tā rén huò mǒu shì hán yǒu tuī xiè huò zé bèi de chéng fèn

Word origin

归咎 (guījiù, "to assign fault") joins 归 (guī, "to assign or return") with 咎 (jiù, "fault"), turning the idea of return into the placement of blame.

Usage tips

  • Because this verb presents a clear target for fault, it can make an explanation sound like an accusation rather than a neutral account of what caused a problem.

Opposites

  • 承担责任chéng dān zé rèntake responsibilityverb
  • 归功于guī gōng yúattribute credit toverb

Word lists with this word