When combined, 替罪羊 (tìzuìyáng) literally means “substitute crime goat.” This mirrors the ancient Hebrew tradition described in the Book of Leviticus, where a goat was symbolically burdened with the sins of the community and sent into the wilderness. The Chinese term captures this idea of transferring guilt to an innocent party perfectly.
The concept of a scapegoat is universal, but in China, it's often linked to maintaining social structures and saving face (miànzi). In a culture that often prioritizes group harmony and hierarchy over individual expression, finding a 替罪羊 can be a pragmatic (though cynical) way to resolve a conflict without challenging authority. A junior employee might be made a 替罪羊 for a project's failure to protect the reputation of their manager and, by extension, the company. This preserves the “face” of the superior and maintains the illusion of a competent hierarchy. Compared to the American/Western concept of “the fall guy,” 替罪羊 carries a similar meaning but often feels more systematic. A “fall guy” might be part of a criminal conspiracy, but a 替罪羊 can be created in any social setting—a family, a school, or an office. It highlights a calculated, often cruel, decision by those in power to sacrifice a weaker member for the perceived good of the group or to cover up their own incompetence.
替罪羊 is a common term used across various contexts, and its connotation is always negative, implying injustice.