归咎
To attribute to
Wörtlich: Return (归) the blame (咎)
Use `归咎于` to professionally explain the cause of a failure or a negative situation.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to attribute a negative result to a specific cause.
- Commonly follows the pattern 'A results from B'.
- Best suited for professional, academic, or serious discussions.
Bedeutung
This phrase is used when you want to point a finger or lay the blame for a problem on someone or something specific. It is like saying 'this bad thing happened because of that factor.'
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Discussing a failed project in a meeting
我们不能把失败完全归咎于市场环境。
We cannot completely attribute the failure to the market environment.
Talking about a sports team's loss
教练把失利归咎于球员们的疲劳。
The coach attributed the loss to the players' fatigue.
Reflecting on a personal mistake
他将自己的迟到归咎于闹钟没响。
He blamed his lateness on the alarm clock not going off.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The term has roots in classical Chinese literature where 'jiù' (咎) represented a cosmic or moral fault. In modern times, it has transitioned from formal literature into professional and academic speech, often used to discuss social issues or economic trends. It reflects the Chinese intellectual tradition of 'seeking the cause' to prevent future errors.
Don't use it for praise!
Never use `归咎` for good news. If you say 'I attribute my promotion to your help' using this word, it sounds like your promotion is a disaster you're blaming them for!
The 'Yu' Connection
Think of `于` as the glue. `归咎` almost never travels alone; it almost always brings its friend `于` to point to the cause.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to attribute a negative result to a specific cause.
- Commonly follows the pattern 'A results from B'.
- Best suited for professional, academic, or serious discussions.
What It Means
归咎 is all about accountability, but usually for things that went wrong. It means to attribute a negative outcome to a specific cause. Think of it as 'pinning the blame' or 'assigning responsibility.' It is more sophisticated than just saying 'it's your fault.'
How To Use It
You will almost always see this used with the word 于. The structure is: [Problem] + 归咎于 + [Cause]. For example, you can say the team's loss was 归咎于 the rainy weather. It sounds polished and logical. You are connecting a result to its origin.
When To Use It
Use this when you are analyzing a situation. It is perfect for business meetings when discussing why a project failed. Use it in news reports or when writing an essay. It works well when you want to sound objective rather than just angry. It is great for deep conversations about life's challenges.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for happy things. You wouldn't 归咎 your success to hard work; that sounds like your success is a crime! For positive things, use 归功于 instead. Also, avoid it in very casual slang-heavy chats with best friends. It might make you sound like a textbook or a lawyer. Keep it for when things get a bit more serious.
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, identifying the root cause of a failure is seen as a way to show wisdom. The character 咎 specifically refers to a fault or a mistake. Historically, it was used in formal records to evaluate the performance of officials. It reflects a mindset of seeking the 'why' behind every 'what.'
Common Variations
You might hear 归咎于 most often. Sometimes people say 委过于人, which means shifting the blame to others unfairly. Another variation is 归因于, which is more neutral and used in scientific contexts. Stick to 归咎于 when there is a clear sense of 'this was a mistake.'
Nutzungshinweise
Mainly used in written Chinese or formal spoken contexts. It carries a negative connotation, so ensure the subject being discussed is a problem or failure.
Don't use it for praise!
Never use `归咎` for good news. If you say 'I attribute my promotion to your help' using this word, it sounds like your promotion is a disaster you're blaming them for!
The 'Yu' Connection
Think of `于` as the glue. `归咎` almost never travels alone; it almost always brings its friend `于` to point to the cause.
The 'Self-Blame' variant
If a high-ranking official resigns because of a mistake, they use `引咎辞职` (resigning to take the blame). It's a very honorable, though sad, way to leave.
Beispiele
6我们不能把失败完全归咎于市场环境。
We cannot completely attribute the failure to the market environment.
A professional way to discuss external factors.
教练把失利归咎于球员们的疲劳。
The coach attributed the loss to the players' fatigue.
Used here to explain a disappointing result.
他将自己的迟到归咎于闹钟没响。
He blamed his lateness on the alarm clock not going off.
Slightly formal way to make an excuse.
你把菜做咸了，难道也要归咎于全球变暖吗？
You made the food too salty; are you going to blame that on global warming too?
Using a formal word for a trivial matter creates humor.
她把这段关系的结束归咎于沟通不足。
She attributed the end of the relationship to a lack of communication.
Expresses a logical conclusion about an emotional event.
这次错误可以归咎于系统更新。
This error can be attributed to the system update.
Clear and direct for workplace communication.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct phrase to explain a negative outcome.
公司利润下降被___于原材料价格上涨。
Since falling profits are a negative outcome, '归咎' (attribute blame) is the correct choice over '归功' (attribute credit).
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition.
他习惯将错误归咎___别人。
The standard collocation is '归咎于' (attribute to).
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Blame
Just saying it's someone's fault.
怪你 (Guài nǐ)
General attribution of cause.
是因为 (Shì yīnwèi)
Professional attribution of blame.
归咎于 (Guījiù yú)
Literary or legal attribution.
引咎 (Yǐnjiù)
Where to use 归咎
Business Analysis
Analyzing low sales
News Reporting
Explaining a traffic accident
Serious Debate
Discussing social problems
Academic Writing
Writing a history paper
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt means to attribute a fault, mistake, or negative outcome to a specific person or cause. It is similar to saying 'to blame' but in a more formal way.
You can, but it might sound a bit dramatic or overly serious. Use 怪 (guài) for casual blaming, like 都怪你 (it's all your fault).
No, 归咎 is strictly for negative things. For positive results, use 归功于 (guīgōng yú), which means 'to give credit to.'
The most common structure is 'Subject + 归咎于 + Cause.' For example: 他把失败归咎于运气 (He attributed the failure to luck).
It is definitely on the formal side. You will see it in newspapers, business reports, and academic papers more than in daily chatter.
The character 咎 (jiù) means fault, mistake, or blame. It carries a sense of error that leads to a bad consequence.
Yes, if you are discussing something serious with a colleague or explaining a mistake to a boss. It shows you are taking the matter seriously.
You would say 不要归咎于我. However, in a casual setting, 别怪我 is much more natural.
Yes, 归因于 (guīyīn yú) is a neutral synonym often used in science or research to mean 'attributed to' without the negative 'blame' nuance.
The biggest mistake is forgetting the 于. Saying just 归咎 without the target of the blame sounds incomplete in modern Chinese.
Verwandte Redewendungen
归功于
To give credit to (the positive version)
归因于
To attribute to (neutral/scientific)
责怪
To blame or complain about someone
推卸责任
To shirk responsibility
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