đổ tội
Definition
- Verb:
- To blame / to shift blame: The primary meaning of "đổ tội" is to attribute fault or guilt to someone else, often to avoid responsibility oneself. It implies an act of accusation where blame is transferred.
- To frame (colloquial): In some contexts, it can mean to falsely accuse someone, setting them up to take the blame.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đừng đổ tội cho người khác. (Don't blame/shift the blame to others.)
- Hắn ta luôn tìm cách đổ tội cho đồng nghiệp. (He always finds a way to blame his colleagues.)
- Cô ấy bị đổ tội oan. (She was wrongly blamed/framed.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a negative connotation of unfairness or evasion of justice. It is commonly used in discussions of conflict, mistakes, and legal or moral responsibility.
Variants and Related Words
- Đỗ lỗi (v): to put the blame on, to fault. This is a very close synonym.
- Anh ấy đỗ lỗi cho tôi. (He put the blame on me.)
Synonyms
- To blame: to assign responsibility for a fault.
- To shift blame: to transfer accusation to another.
- To scapegoat: to blame someone unfairly for the wrongdoings of others.
Related Idioms
- Đổ vỏ / Đổ thừa (colloquial): to make excuses, to shift blame in a casual or petty context.
- Nó hay đổ thừa tại thời tiết. (He often blames it on the weather [as an excuse].)