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诿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
诿wěito shirk, to pass the buck, to make excusesvg, 10 strokes, radical 讠
诿wěito give excusesunknown, 10 strokes, radical 讠
wěi(wei3) T3
  1. 1to shirk, to pass the buck, to make excuses
  2. 2to give excuses
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March 24, 2026

诿(諉)wěi(wei3)

The character 诿 (wěi) means to shirk responsibility or to pass the buck to someone else. It is commonly used in contexts where an individual tries to avoid accountability by making excuses or shifting blame. This term often carries a negative connotation, suggesting dishonesty or evasion.

Strokes10Radical讠
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of accountability is highly valued, and shirking responsibility is often frowned upon. The term 诿 reflects a societal expectation that individuals should take responsibility for their actions, especially in communal settings like family and work.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person (the character 诿) standing at a fork in the road, pointing in different directions but refusing to choose. This visual helps you remember that 诿 is about avoiding commitment or responsibility, much like someone who shirks their duty. The sound 'wěi' can be associated with 'weighing' options but ultimately deciding to do nothing.

Meanings of 诿

wěi(wei3)
1to shirk, to pass the buck, to make excuses
2to give excuses
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 诿

诿Simplified
諉Traditional
10Strokes
讠Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 诿

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Podcast: 诿

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AI Study Notes for 诿

Quick Contrast

推卸 (tuīxiè) - 推卸 specifically refers to the act of shirking one's duties or responsibilities, while 诿 emphasizes the aspect of passing blame to others.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 诿 with similar terms like 推卸 (tuīxiè), which also means to shirk but is more specifically about delegating duties. This character is more formal and might not be used in everyday casual conversations, so be mindful of the context in which you choose to use it.

HSK Study Tips

Although 诿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your grasp of more complex language structures. It connects to themes of responsibility and accountability, which are relevant at higher levels of Chinese learning. Focus on its usage in formal writing and discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 诿 with similar verbs and use it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我诿我的责任' (I shirk my responsibility) might sound overly formal in a friendly conversation; using a simpler phrase would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 诿

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Etymology of 诿

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

speech

Semantic (meaning)讠
+
Phonetic (sound)委
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 诿

  1. 1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half委 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayspeech
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 诿? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 诿?

Decomposition of 诿

IDS Structure⿰讠委
诿Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
委wei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 诿?

How to say to shirk, to pass the buck, to make excuses in Chinese

“to shirk, to pass the buck, to make excuses” in Chinese is诿wěi

The character 诿 (wěi) means to shirk responsibility or to pass the buck to someone else. It is commonly used in contexts where an individual tries to avoid accountability by making excuses or shifting blame. This term often carries a negative connotation, suggesting dishonesty or evasion.

When to use 诿

Learners often confuse 诿 with similar terms like 推卸 (tuīxiè), which also means to shirk but is more specifically about delegating duties. This character is more formal and might not be used in everyday casual conversations, so be mindful of the context in which you choose to use it.

诿 or something close to it

推卸 (tuīxiè) - 推卸 specifically refers to the act of shirking one's duties or responsibilities, while 诿 emphasizes the aspect of passing blame to others.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 诿 with similar verbs and use it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我诿我的责任' (I shirk my responsibility) might sound overly formal in a friendly conversation; using a simpler phrase would be more appropriate.

Write 诿

诿

Practice writing 诿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 诿

诿 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

产生的C? 璞焕г____嫱胖校0使面团发了起来.

The carbon dioxide produced becomes entrapped in the dough, causing it to rise.

Example Sentences for 诿 (1)

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1
产生的C? 璞焕г诿嫱胖校0使面团发了起来.

chǎn shēng deC? C? púг huàn г wěi qiáng0 pàng xiào 0 shǐ miàn tuán fā.

The carbon dioxide produced becomes entrapped in the dough, causing it to rise.

Word Family of 诿

Words Containing This Character2
推诿to decline推諉
诿wěito shirk諉
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 推诿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 诿

No, 诿 is more formal and is typically encountered in written contexts or serious discussions.

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