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挡箭牌 (dǎng jiàn pái) — (figurative) a shield, an excuse or pretext used to deflect blame or criticism

Definition

A figurative 'shield' — something (a person, policy, or excuse) used to deflect blame or criticism. Often follows 当 dāng or 拿 ná: 拿…当挡箭牌 'use … as a shield/excuse'.

noun
(figurative) a shield, an excuse or pretext used to deflect blame or criticism

Examples

  • 挡箭牌，。
    Tā zǒng shì ná gōng zuò máng dāng dǎng jiàn pái, qí shí shì bù xiǎng cān jiā jù huì.
    He always uses being busy with work as an excuse, but actually he doesn't want to attend the party.
  • 挡箭牌。
    Zhè ge zhèng cè chéng le zhèng fǔ tuī xiè zé rèn de dǎng jiàn pái.
    This policy has become a shield for the government to shirk responsibility.
  • 挡箭牌，。
    Bié ná nián líng dāng dǎng jiàn pái, nǐ wán quán yǒu néng lì zuò hǎo zhè jiàn shì.
    Don't use age as an excuse — you are fully capable of doing this well.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

挡箭block arrows
挡dǎngblock箭jiànarrow
动宾Verb + object
牌páishield

挡箭 blocks arrows, and 牌 is a shield, giving a shield or excuse.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擋; 挡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
當
當dāng擋dǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 擋 pairs 扌 (hand) with 當 as the sound part; this note is about 擋, not about the parts of 挡.

Open 挡 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
前
前qián箭jiàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 竹 part points to bamboo, the material of arrows; the 前 part gives the sound.

Open 箭 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
片片piàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
卑
卑bēi牌pái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

牌 puts 片, a flat piece, beside 卑, which gives the sound.

Open 牌 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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