bēiguō: 背锅 - To take the blame, be a scapegoat

Keywords: beiguo, bēiguō, 背锅, take the blame Chinese, scapegoat Chinese, carry the pot meaning, fall guy Chinese, shift blame Chinese, Chinese slang, workplace slang.

Summary: Learn the popular Chinese slang term 背锅 (bēiguō), which literally means “to carry a pot on your back.” This vivid metaphor is used when someone is forced to take the blame for a mistake they didn't make, essentially becoming a scapegoat or a fall guy. This entry explores its cultural origins, modern usage in the workplace and online, and how it differs from simply “taking responsibility.”

Pinyin (with tone marks): bēiguō

Part of Speech: Verb Phrase

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: To be unjustly blamed for something; to be made a scapegoat.

In a Nutshell: Imagine someone messes up, and to avoid trouble, they hand you a big, heavy cooking pot (a “锅” or `guō`) and make you carry it on your back (to “背” or `bēi`). That's the feeling of 背锅 (bēiguō). It's the