避重就轻

避重就輕

bìzhòng-jiùqīng

idiom #46,858

Meanings

1 to avoid the serious and settle on the trivial
2 to dodge the main issue by discussing minor ones
3 to shirk heavy burdens by taking up light ones

Characters

heavy; important

to move toward; take up

Examples

HSK 2

不要避重就轻，请直接回答。

Bùyào bìzhòng-jiùqīng, qǐng zhíjiē huídá.

Don't sidestep the main issue - please answer directly.

HSK 3

他回答问题时总是避重就轻。

Tā huídá wèntí shí zǒngshì bìzhòng-jiùqīng.

When answering questions, he always dodges the serious ones to focus on trivial ones.

HSK 7-9

记者批评官员避重就轻。

Jìzhě pīpíng guānyuán bìzhòng-jiùqīng.

Reporters criticized the official for dodging the main issue.

Tips

history

From the Tang-era 《唐六典·工部尚书》: 技能功巧者，不得隐巧补拙，避重就轻 - skilled craftsmen are forbidden from hiding their real skill, faking expertise, or dodging heavy work for light. Originally about craftsmen shirking; later generalized to any evasive tactic in argument or accountability.

register

Negative - accuses someone of deliberate evasion. Common in political commentary, courtroom, and investigative journalism. When questioning a witness or official, it is the stock complaint about non-answers.

Stroke Order

避 bì

重 zhòng

就 jiù

轻 qīng