# 避重就轻

bì zhòng jiù qīng

Evade the important issue and address trivial ones

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Avoid the heavy and take the light

**Traditional Chinese:** 避重就輕

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize selective answers that hide serious concerns.

Prioritizing a small urgent matter may be legitimate.

## Understanding the expression

The speaker chooses the lighter issue while leaving the heavier one unattended. The expression often concerns evasive explanations, interviews, or apologies that admit a minor fault but conceal the main problem. The criticism is about avoidance rather than brevity. A short answer can still address the central issue honestly. Showing which serious question went unanswered makes the judgment clearer and prevents the phrase from becoming a vague complaint about any selective discussion.

## Examples

他只谈迟到，对造假避重就轻。

### Traditional Chinese

他只談遲到，對造假避重就輕。

tā zhī tán chí dào ， duì zào jiǎ bì zhòng jiù qīng 。

He discussed lateness while evading the serious issue of falsification.

道歉不能避重就轻。

### Traditional Chinese

道歉不能避重就輕。

dào qiàn bù néng bì zhòng jiù qīng 。

An apology should not evade the main issue.

报告避重就轻，没说明资金去向。

### Traditional Chinese

報告避重就輕，沒說明資金去向。

bào gào bì zhòng jiù qīng ， méi shuō míng zī jīn qù xiàng 。

The report avoided the important issue and did not explain where the money went.

她追问损失，拒绝让对方避重就轻。

### Traditional Chinese

她追問損失，拒絕讓對方避重就輕。

tā zhuī wèn sǔn shī ， jù jué ràng duì fāng bì zhòng jiù qīng 。

She pressed about the losses and refused to let the other party evade them.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%81%BF%E9%87%8D%E5%B0%B1%E8%BC%95)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=986&webMd=1&la=0)

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