避 (bì) - to avoid & to evade
避 · bì
to avoid;
to evade;
to shun;
to prevent;
to escape;
to dodge;
to keep away from.
to avoidto evadeto shun
Usage highlights
avoid disasterdodge a bullettake shelter from the rainevade taxesprevent troublesummer resort
Usage & contexts
Examples
- He avoided the question (避开了问题).
- We need to avoid danger (避开危险).
- She dodged the falling object (躲避坠落的物体).
- This place provides shelter from the rain (避雨的地方).
- They evacuated to avoid the flood (避洪水).
Collocations
- avoid disaster(避灾)
- dodge a bullet(避弹)
- take shelter from the rain(避雨)
- evade taxes(避税)
- prevent trouble(避祸)
- summer resort(避暑胜地)
Idioms
- Flee from the world and live in seclusion(避世离俗)
- Avoid reality and seek ease(避实就虚)
- Dodge the strong and attack the weak(避强击弱)
- Just in case (以防万一) - though not containing 避, related conceptually
- Seek advantages and avoid disadvantages(趋利避害)
Cultural background
FAQ- In traditional Chinese philosophy, avoiding conflict and danger was seen as wise rather than cowardly.
- The concept of '避' appears in military strategy texts like Sun Tzu's Art of War, emphasizing avoiding strong enemy forces.
- Taoist philosophy often advocates 'avoidance' as a way to preserve life and achieve harmony with nature.
- In Chinese naming traditions, characters implying protection and avoidance of harm are sometimes used for children believed to need extra spiritual protection.