Chinese word

推脱

Pronunciation

Pinyintuī tuō

Meaning

  • verbshirk

Example

你不能再推脱了。nǐ bù néng zài tuī tuō le

You can't keep shirking.

Illustration for 推脱 (shirk)

More examples

遇到问题不要总想着推脱责任。yù dào wèn tí bú yào zǒng xiǎng zhe tuī tuō zé rèn

When you face a problem, don't always try to shirk responsibility.

Core concept

A required duty is kept at a distance through delay, excuses, or handoff until someone else has to carry it.

Common phrases

  • 推脱责任tuī tuō zé rèn

    shirk responsibility

  • 推脱任务tuī tuō rèn wù

    shirk a task

  • 以借口推脱责任yǐ jiè kǒu tuī tuō zé rèn

    use excuses to shirk responsibility

Similar words

逃避táo bì: Avoids danger or trouble by leaving the situation.
推诿tuī wěi: Refuses to accept responsibility and shifts it onto someone else.
推托tuī tuō: Uses excuses to refuse or put off a task that should be done.

Definition in Chinese

以托词、拖延或把工作推给别人等方式，逃避必须履行的义务或责任。yǐ tuō cí tuō yán huò bǎ gōng zuò tuī gěi bié rén děng fāng shì táo bì bì xū lǚ xíng de yì wù huò zé rèn

Word origin

The compound 推脱 (tuītuō, "shirk") combines the movement of 推 (tuī, "push") with the escape in 脱 (tuō, "get free"), making responsibility something to push away.

Usage tips

  • The word is stronger than simply saying no because it suggests avoiding an obligation that should still be handled.

Other meanings

  • make excusesverb
  • shift responsibilityverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word