避重就轻

避重就輕

bìzhòngjiùqīng

idiom #46,858

Meanings

1 to avoid the serious and settle on the trivial (idiom)
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

他回答问题时总是避重就轻。

Tā huídá wèntí shí zǒngshì bìzhòngjiùqīng.

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

不要避重就轻，请直接回答。

Bùyào bìzhòngjiùqīng, qǐng zhíjiē huídá.

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

记者批评官员避重就轻。

Jìzhě pīpíng guānyuán bìzhòngjiùqīng.

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