替死鬼

tìsǐguǐ

noun #21,160

Measure Word

一个替死鬼 gè

Meanings

1 scapegoat
2 fall guy
3 someone who dies or takes blame in place of another

Characters

to replace / in place of

Examples

他只是个替死鬼，真正的罪犯早就跑了。

Tā zhǐshì ge tìsǐguǐ, zhēnzhèng de zuìfàn zǎojiù pǎo le.

He was just a fall guy - the real criminal had long since fled.

别找替死鬼，要自己负责。

Bié zhǎo tìsǐguǐ, yào zìjǐ fùzé.

Don't look for a scapegoat - take responsibility yourself.

Tips

culture

替死鬼 comes from folk belief that a ghost (鬼) who died unjustly could find a 'replacement' (替) to die in their place and free them from the underworld. Figuratively, it now means any innocent person made to take the blame or punishment for someone else.

Stroke Order

替 tì

死 sǐ

鬼 guǐ