táobì: 逃避 - To Escape, To Evade, To Avoid

• Keywords: táobì, 逃避, escape in Chinese, avoid in Chinese, evade responsibility Chinese, Chinese word for avoidance, how to say escape in Mandarin, táobì meaning, 逃避 examples, shirk duty Chinese, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the Chinese word 逃避 (táobì), which means to escape, evade, or avoid. This common HSK 5 verb is crucial for understanding how to talk about avoiding responsibility, problems, or reality in Mandarin Chinese. This page explores its cultural context, provides practical examples of how to use 逃避 (táobì), and clarifies common mistakes to help you master this important concept.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): táobì
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To escape, evade, or avoid something that one should face, such as a problem, responsibility, or reality.
• In a Nutshell: 逃避 (táobì) is more than just a physical escape; it's a psychological retreat. It carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is shirking a duty, showing weakness, or refusing to confront a difficult but necessary situation. Think of it as “to run away from” your problems rather than simply “to avoid” an inconvenience.

• 逃 (táo): This character means “to flee,” “to run away,” or “to escape.” The radical 辶 (chuò) on the left signifies movement or walking. The right side, 兆 (zhào), provides the sound. So, 逃 is fundamentally about the action of running away from a place or situation.
• 避 (bì): This character means “to avoid,” “to shun,” or “to dodge.” It also contains the movement radical 辶 (chuò). The right side, 辟 (bì), means to ward off or keep away. So, 避 is about the action of moving to get away from something.
• When combined, 逃避 (táobì) creates a powerful compound word: “to flee and avoid.” It emphasizes a deliberate and often desperate attempt to get away from something intangible, like responsibility (责任), problems (问题), or reality (现实).

In Chinese culture, which often values perseverance, enduring hardship (吃苦 - chīkǔ), and fulfilling one's obligations to the family and community, 逃避 (táobì) is viewed as a significant character flaw. To 逃避责任 (táobì zérèn), or evade responsibility, is considered dishonorable and immature. It runs counter to the collective expectation that individuals should face challenges head-on for the good of the group. This can be contrasted with some modern Western concepts like “setting boundaries” or “taking a mental health day.” While these actions are seen as positive forms of self-care in the West, a traditional Chinese perspective might interpret them as a form of 逃避 (táobì) if they involve neglecting one's duties. For a learner, it's crucial to understand that accusing someone of 逃避 (táobì) is a serious criticism of their character, not just an observation of their actions.

逃避 (táobì) is a common word used in daily conversations, media, and even psychological discussions. Its connotation is almost always negative.

• Evading Intangible Things: Its most common use is for abstract concepts. People 逃避 problems, reality, difficult conversations, and responsibilities.
  • e.g., 逃避现实 (táobì xiànshí) - to escape from reality
  • e.g., 逃避问题 (táobì wèntí) - to evade a problem
• In Relationships: It's often used to describe someone who avoids dealing with conflict or emotional issues.
  • e.g., “He uses silence to 逃避 arguments.”
• Formal/Legal Context: It can be used in formal settings to mean evading legal consequences.
  • e.g., 逃避法律制裁 (táobì fǎlǜ zhìcái) - to evade legal sanctions

• Example 1:
  • 你不能总是逃避问题，你必须面对它。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng zǒngshì táobì wèntí, nǐ bìxū miànduì tā.
  • English: You can't always evade problems, you must face them.
  • Analysis: A very common and direct use. It sets up a clear contrast between 逃避 (táobì) (to evade) and its direct antonym, 面对 (miànduì) (to face).
• Example 2:
  • 他选择逃避现实，整天玩电脑游戏。
  • Pinyin: Tā xuǎnzé táobì xiànshí, zhěng tiān wán diànnǎo yóuxì.
  • English: He chose to escape from reality, playing computer games all day.
  • Analysis: This links the abstract concept of 逃避现实 (táobì xiànshí) with a concrete, observable action (playing games).
• Example 3:
  • 逃避责任是懦夫的行为。
  • Pinyin: Táobì zérèn shì nuòfū de xíngwéi.
  • English: Evading responsibility is the act of a coward.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the strong negative and moral judgment associated with the word.
• Example 4:
  • 每次我们想谈谈未来，她都逃避这个话题。
  • Pinyin: Měi cì wǒmen xiǎng tántan wèilái, tā dōu táobì zhège huàtí.
  • English: Every time we want to talk about the future, she evades the topic.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 逃避 (táobì) can be used for avoiding a specific conversation or topic.
• Example 5:
  • 不要用忙碌来逃避真正的问题。
  • Pinyin: Búyào yòng mánglù lái táobì zhēnzhèng de wèntí.
  • English: Don't use being busy as an excuse to evade the real issues.
  • Analysis: Highlights the psychological aspect—using one activity to avoid confronting something more important.
• Example 6:
  • 这位官员试图逃避对他腐败行为的调查。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi guānyuán shìtú táobì duì tā fǔbài xíngwéi de diàochá.
  • English: This official attempted to evade the investigation into his corrupt activities.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 逃避 (táobì) in a more formal, legal, or political context.
• Example 7:
  • 他有逃避型人格障碍。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒu táobì xíng réngé zhàng'ài.
  • English: He has avoidant personality disorder.
  • Analysis: This is a direct translation of a clinical psychological term, showing the word's application in a modern, scientific context.
• Example 8:
  • 你为什么总是在逃避我？我做错了什么吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme zǒngshì zài táobì wǒ? Wǒ zuò cuòle shénme ma?
  • English: Why are you always avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?
  • Analysis: Here, 逃避 (táobì) is used for avoiding a person, implying a deeper issue than simply not wanting to see them.
• Example 9:
  • 面对失败是成长的第一步，逃避只会让你停滞不前。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì shībài shì chéngzhǎng de dì yī bù, táobì zhǐ huì ràng nǐ tíngzhì bù qián.
  • English: Facing failure is the first step to growth; evading it will only make you stagnate.
  • Analysis: A philosophical or motivational use of the word, contrasting it with personal growth.
• Example 10:
  • 无论你跑到哪里，你都无法逃避你自己。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn nǐ pǎo dào nǎlǐ, nǐ dōu wúfǎ táobì nǐ zìjǐ.
  • English: No matter where you run, you can't escape from yourself.
  • Analysis: A profound sentence showing that 逃避 (táobì) is ultimately futile when dealing with internal struggles.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 逃避 (táobì) with the more neutral word 避免 (bìmiǎn).

• 逃避 (táobì): To evade/escape (negative). Used for things you should face but don't want to, like responsibility, problems, or reality. It implies a failure of will or courage.
• 避免 (bìmiǎn): To avoid/prevent (neutral). Used for preventing a negative outcome or avoiding an inconvenience, often through wise planning.

Example of Mistake:

• Incorrect: 我逃避在高峰时间出门，因为车太多了。(Wǒ táobì zài gāofēng shíjiān chūmén, yīnwèi chē tài duō le.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds overly dramatic, as if you have a moral duty to brave rush hour traffic and are a coward for not doing so.
• Correct: 我尽量避免在高峰时间出门，因为车太多了。(Wǒ jǐnliàng bìmiǎn zài gāofēng shíjiān chūmén, yīnwèi chē tài duō le.)
• Explanation: You are simply “avoiding” a hassle through good planning. This is a neutral, sensible action, so 避免 (bìmiǎn) is the correct choice.

Rule of Thumb: If you are “avoiding” something out of wisdom, planning, or simple preference, use 避免 (bìmiǎn). If you are “evading” something out of fear, weakness, or a refusal to do your duty, use 逃避 (táobì).

• 面对 (miànduì) - To face, to confront. The direct antonym of 逃避.
• 避免 (bìmiǎn) - To avoid, to prevent. A neutral term that is often confused with 逃避. It implies sensible prevention rather than cowardly evasion.
• 躲避 (duǒbì) - To dodge, to hide from. More focused on avoiding something physical, like dodging a ball or hiding from a person.
• 回避 (huíbì) - To evade, to sidestep. Similar to 逃避, but often used in the context of conversations or formal questions (e.g., evading a reporter's question). It can be slightly more formal.
• 逃跑 (táopǎo) - To run away, to flee. Purely a physical action of escaping from a place, like a prisoner escaping from jail. It lacks the psychological depth of 逃避.
• 责任 (zérèn) - Responsibility. This is one of the most common abstract concepts that people 逃避.
• 现实 (xiànshí) - Reality. Another common object of the verb 逃避.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - Literally “to eat bitterness”; to endure hardship. This is a highly valued trait in Chinese culture and stands in direct opposition to the act of 逃避.