Definition

1. Verb:
   • To evade by making excuses; to prevaricate: The primary meaning of "chối quanh" is to avoid giving a direct answer or admitting the truth by using evasive, indirect, or roundabout arguments.
   • To defend oneself with circumlocution: It describes a defensive tactic where one protests or denies something not directly, but by talking around the issue.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Khi bị hỏi về lỗi sai, anh ta chỉ chối quanh. (When asked about the mistake, he just evaded the question.)
  • Đừng có chối quanh nữa, hãy trả lời thẳng vào vấn đề. (Stop prevaricating and answer the question directly.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a sense of guilt or avoidance of responsibility. It is not merely being indirect but specifically avoiding a direct confession or admission.

Variants and Related Words

• Chối (v): to deny, to refuse.
  • Nó chối không nhận tội. (He denied committing the crime.)
• Quanh co (adj, v): to be roundabout, indirect; to beat around the bush.
  • Lời giải thích của cô ấy rất quanh co. (Her explanation was very roundabout.)

Synonyms

• To prevaricate: to speak or act in an evasive way.
• To equivocate: to use ambiguous language to conceal the truth.
• To hedge: to avoid giving a direct answer.
• To beat around the bush: to avoid coming to the point.

Related Idioms

• Nói vòng vo tam quốc: (lit. to talk in circles like the Three Kingdoms) a common idiom meaning to talk in a very long, indirect, and evasive manner. This is a stronger, more elaborate form of "chối quanh."
  • Anh ấy cứ nói vòng vo tam quốc mà không chịu thừa nhận. (He kept talking in endless circles and refused to admit it.)