避而不谈

避而不談

bì'ér-bùtán

idiom #30,643

Meanings

1 to evade a subject and refuse to discuss it
2 to deliberately sidestep an issue
3 to avoid mentioning

Characters

to avoid; evade

to talk; discuss

Examples

HSK 3

记者问起这件事，他总是避而不谈。

Jìzhě wèn qǐ zhè jiàn shì, tā zǒngshì bì'ér-bùtán.

Whenever reporters ask about it, he always dodges the subject.

HSK 3

对自己的错误避而不谈是不负责任的。

Duì zìjǐ de cuòwù bì'ér-bùtán shì bù fùzérèn de.

Dodging one's own mistakes is irresponsible.

HSK 4

关于离婚的原因，她避而不谈。

Guānyú líhūn de yuányīn, tā bì'ér-bùtán.

She refuses to discuss the reasons for her divorce.

Tips

usage

Carries mild criticism, implying the speaker has something to hide or isn't being fully transparent. Not neutral. Compare with 闭口不谈 (stronger, 'seal one's lips and say nothing').

grammar

Usually takes an object via 对 or 关于: 对...避而不谈 / 关于...避而不谈. Can also appear bare, with the topic implied from context.

Stroke Order

避 bì

而 ér

不 bù

谈 tán