替罪羊

tìzuìyáng
noun #9,664

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 scapegoat

Examples

HSK 2
Tā bù xiǎng chéngwéi biérén de tìzuìyáng.
He doesn't want to become someone else's scapegoat.
HSK 3
Bié bǎ wǒ dāng tìzuìyáng!
Don't make me the scapegoat!
HSK 6
Gōngsī chū le wèntí, tā bèi dàngchéng le tìzuìyáng.
When the company had problems, he was made the scapegoat.

Tips

history
替罪羊 is a calque from the Western concept of the scapegoat (from the Hebrew Bible). The Chinese version literally means 'substitute-sin-goat.' The concept entered Chinese through biblical translations.
memory
(substitute) + (sin/guilt) + (goat/sheep) = a goat that takes on sins for others. Picture a goat wearing a prison uniform.

Stroke Order

zuì
yáng