推辞

• Pinyin: tuī cí
• Hanzi breakdown: 推 = 扌 (hand) + 隹 (bird); 辞 = 舌 (tongue) + 辛 (bitter, difficult)

Meaning

To decline; to turn down; to make excuses to refuse. Politely refusing an offer, invitation, or responsibility.

Implies declining something through indirect excuses rather than direct refusal. Often used when social etiquette requires a softer form of refusal. Can describe modest declining of praise or gifts, or avoiding responsibility through excuses.

Examples

1. 他以身体不适为由推辞了这次出差任务。 He declined this business trip assignment citing poor health.
2. 面对领导的表扬，她连连推辞说这是团队的功劳。 Facing the leader's praise, she repeatedly demurred, saying it was the team's credit.
3. 这件事责任重大，谁也不敢推辞。 This matter carries great responsibility, and no one dares to shirk it.

Usage Guide

Context: social, professional, polite refusal

Tone: diplomatic

Do Say

• 这份工作我实在推辞不了。(I really couldn't decline this job.)
• 他多次推辞升职的机会。(He has declined promotion opportunities multiple times.)

Don't Say

• 用'推辞'表示直接拒绝 (推辞 implies indirect refusal with excuses; for direct refusal use 拒绝)

Origin & History

Compound of 推 (push away) + 辞 (words, decline). Literally 'push away with words,' indicating verbal refusal or excuse-making.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal