避讳

避諱

bìhuì

verb #32,513

Meanings

1 to observe a name taboo (esp. for emperors or elders)
2 to avoid mentioning a taboo topic
3 to shy away from

Characters

Examples

HSK 6

在中国传统社会，要避讳皇帝的名字。

Zài Zhōngguó chuántǒng shèhuì, yào bìhuì huángdì de míngzì.

In traditional Chinese society, one had to taboo the emperor's name.

HSK 6

他从不避讳谈自己的过去。

Tā cóngbù bìhuì tán zìjǐ de guòqù.

He never shies away from talking about his past.

Tips

history

Imperial 避讳 was a serious legal matter - writing the reigning emperor's personal name was a capital offense. Scribes substituted homophones, omitted strokes, or rewrote whole passages. This is why the Tang character 民 was avoided during the reign of Taizong (Li Shimin).

mistakes

Two readings: bìhuì (full literary sense - name taboo) and bìhui (neutral tone, colloquial - 'avoid mentioning, refrain from'). Both are correct depending on context.

Stroke Order

避 bì

讳 huì