In 15 Seconds
- Used when someone avoids their duties or shifts blame to others.
- Commonly paired with 'responsibility' (责任) in professional or serious contexts.
- Implies a negative judgment of the person's character or integrity.
Meaning
This is what you say when someone is trying to dodge their responsibilities or pass the blame to someone else. It is like seeing someone drop a glass and immediately point at the cat.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a heated office meeting
你不能把所有错误都推卸给实习生。
You can't shirk all the mistakes onto the intern.
A serious conversation between a couple
这是我们共同的问题，请不要推卸责任。
This is our shared problem; please don't shirk your responsibility.
Watching a news report about a scandal
这家公司试图推卸对环境污染的责任。
This company is trying to shirk responsibility for the environmental pollution.
Cultural Background
The phrase reflects a deep societal value on 'taking ownership' (担当). While it has roots in classical Chinese regarding unloading cargo, its modern usage is heavily tied to ethics and professional integrity. It became a staple in legal and corporate vocabulary during China's economic opening.
The Golden Pair
90% of the time, you will see `推卸` followed by `责任` (zérèn). Memorize them as a single unit!
Don't be too casual
Because it sounds formal, using it on a best friend for something tiny (like eating your fries) might sound overly dramatic.
In 15 Seconds
- Used when someone avoids their duties or shifts blame to others.
- Commonly paired with 'responsibility' (责任) in professional or serious contexts.
- Implies a negative judgment of the person's character or integrity.
What It Means
推卸 is all about avoiding accountability. The first character 推 means to push. The second character 卸 means to unload or take off. Imagine you are carrying a heavy box of responsibilities. Instead of holding it, you push it away or dump it on someone else's desk. It is not just about being lazy. It is about actively trying to make sure a problem is not 'your' problem anymore.
How To Use It
You usually see this paired with a noun like 责任 (responsibility). It acts as a verb. You can say someone is 推卸责任. It sounds a bit serious and accusatory. You wouldn't use this for a small accident like forgetting to buy milk. Use it when the stakes are higher. It describes the act of shifting blame to protect oneself.
When To Use It
Use this in professional settings when a project fails. Use it in serious arguments with friends or partners. If a coworker blames a software bug on your 'bad typing,' they are 推卸责任. If a politician blames the weather for a bad economy, they are 推卸. It is perfect for those 'it wasn't me' moments that frustrate everyone else.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for physical objects. You don't 推卸 a chair across the room. Also, avoid it for polite refusals. If someone offers you cake and you say no, that is not 推卸. It is specifically for avoiding duties or blame. If the situation is lighthearted or a joke, this word might feel too heavy or harsh.
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, taking responsibility is a sign of high character. The concept of 'Face' (面子) is involved here. Sometimes people 推卸 because they are terrified of losing face by admitting a mistake. However, doing so often makes them lose more face in the long run. It is a word often seen in news reports about corporate scandals or government accountability.
Common Variations
The most common pair is 推卸责任. You might also hear 推卸掉, which adds a sense of successfully getting rid of the burden. In very casual slang, people might just say 甩锅 (shuǎiguō), which literally means 'to throw the wok' at someone else. 推卸 is the more 'adult' and formal version of that feeling.
Usage Notes
Mainly used in formal or serious contexts. It carries a strong tone of disapproval. Always try to pair it with `责任` or `义务` for the most natural sound.
The Golden Pair
90% of the time, you will see `推卸` followed by `责任` (zérèn). Memorize them as a single unit!
Don't be too casual
Because it sounds formal, using it on a best friend for something tiny (like eating your fries) might sound overly dramatic.
The 'Wok' Alternative
If you want to sound like a local gamer or internet user, use `甩锅` (shuǎiguō) instead of `推卸责任`.
Examples
6你不能把所有错误都推卸给实习生。
You can't shirk all the mistakes onto the intern.
Common workplace scenario where a leader avoids blame.
这是我们共同的问题，请不要推卸责任。
This is our shared problem; please don't shirk your responsibility.
Used here to demand accountability in a relationship.
这家公司试图推卸对环境污染的责任。
This company is trying to shirk responsibility for the environmental pollution.
Very formal and typical of journalistic language.
他又在推卸任务了，真让人头疼。
He's shirking his tasks again; it's such a headache.
Using 'tasks' (任务) instead of 'responsibility' for daily life.
我家狗把咬坏沙发的责任推卸给了猫。
My dog shirked the responsibility of chewing the sofa onto the cat.
Applying a serious word to a funny situation for effect.
别再推卸了，大家都知道是你做的。
Stop dodging it; everyone knows you did it.
Short and direct confrontation.
Test Yourself
Choose the best word to complete the sentence regarding a project failure.
出了问题，我们应该解决它，而不是互相___责任。
`推卸责任` is the standard collocation for shirking responsibility. `推辞` is for declining an invitation.
Which noun most naturally follows `推卸`?
他总是想方设法___自己的义务。
One can `推卸义务` (shirk obligations), just like shirking responsibility.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of Shirking
甩锅 (Throwing the wok)
他又在甩锅了。
躲避 (Avoiding)
他在躲避这个问题。
推卸 (Shirking)
请勿推卸责任。
罔顾 (Disregard)
罔顾职责。
When to use 推卸
Broken Contract
推卸违约责任
Work Mistake
推卸错误
Family Duty
推卸家庭义务
Social Blame
互相推卸
Practice Bank
2 exercises出了问题，我们应该解决它，而不是互相___责任。
`推卸责任` is the standard collocation for shirking responsibility. `推辞` is for declining an invitation.
他总是想方设法___自己的义务。
One can `推卸义务` (shirk obligations), just like shirking responsibility.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 推卸 is only for abstract things like responsibilities, blame, or duties. For physical objects, use 推 (push) or 搬 (move).
It is almost always negative. It implies that someone is being cowardly or dishonest by not taking responsibility.
推辞 is used for politely declining a gift, an invitation, or a promotion. 推卸 is for avoiding something you are actually supposed to do.
No, you cannot 'shirk' a person. You can only shirk a responsibility *onto* a person using 把责任推卸给朋友.
Yes, very much so. It is a key term in contracts and performance reviews when discussing who is at fault for a failure.
逃避 (táobì) is a common synonym meaning 'to escape' or 'to evade,' though 推卸 is more specific to shifting blame.
Yes, you can say 我不想推卸责任 (I don't want to shirk my responsibility) to show you are being honest and brave.
Yes, if the topic is serious. If it's just a joke, it might sound a bit 'stiff' or like you're actually angry.
It is primarily a verb. To express 'shirking' as a concept, you would still use the verb form in a phrase like 这种推卸行为 (this shirking behavior).
You can say 不要推卸责任 or the more idiomatic 别甩锅.
Related Phrases
责任 (Responsibility)
承担 (To undertake/bear)
甩锅 (To shift blame - slang)
推辞 (To decline politely)
逃避 (To evade)
