chối quanh
Definition
- 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.)