避重就轻
bì zhòng jiù qīng
to dodge the serious issue and dwell on minor ones
Character by character
避bì
avoid
avoid
重zhòng
heavy
heavy
就jiù
approach
approach
轻qīng
light
light
Example
记者问的是事故的原因，他却避重就轻，只谈公司捐了多少钱。
The reporter asked what caused the accident, but he dodged the question and talked only about how much the company had donated.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
The classic charge against evasive statements, apologies and self-criticisms: 回答避重就轻, 通报有避重就轻之嫌 (the pattern from 5-9). In court reporting it also describes a suspect who admits small things to hide big ones.
Learn this in Lesson 192 · HSK 7–9: 热搜与情况通报 (Trending topics and official statements)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →