避重就轻 (bì zhòng jiù qīng) — to dodge the main issue and dwell on minor points; to take the easy way out

Definition

Idiom meaning to dodge the hard core of an issue and dwell on trivial details — often criticized as evasive or lazy.

idiom
to dodge the main issue and dwell on minor pointsto take the easy way out

Examples

  • 避重就轻，。
    Tā zài huì yì shàng bì zhòng jiù qīng, zhī tán le xiē wú guān jǐn yào de xiǎo shì.
    He dodged the main issues at the meeting, only talking about trivial matters.
  • 避重就轻，。
    Nǐ huí dá wèn tí zǒng shì bì zhòng jiù qīng, gēn běn bù gǎn miàn duì zhēn zhèng de kùn nan.
    You always sidestep the real issue when answering questions, not daring to face the true difficulties.
  • 避重就轻，。
    Zuò xué wèn bù néng bì zhòng jiù qīng, yào yǒng yú zuān yán nà xiē zuì nán de wèn tí.
    When doing research, you can't just take the easy way out—you must be brave enough to tackle the hardest problems.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

避重avoid the weighty
避bìavoid重zhòngheavy; major
动宾Verb + object
就轻take the light
就jiùtake; approach轻qīnglight; minor
动宾Verb + object

Avoiding the weighty and taking the light gives the sense of dodging the main issue.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòto walk
Sound part声符shēngfú
辟
辟pì避bì
Same sound today

避 is built from 辶, a walking-related form, plus 辟, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 避 →

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

An older form paired 享, a temple, with 京, a tower, showing sacrifice at a high place; in 就 the temple part was dropped and a right part for going upward was added.

Open 就 →

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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