yǐlínwéihè

以邻为壑

Word · IdiomTraditional以鄰為壑

shift one's troubles onto others; pass the buck

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 4 examples
1.

idiom

to use one's neighbor as a drain; to shift one's troubles onto others; to pass the buck

formal

Originally referred to literally dumping floodwater into neighboring states; now used metaphorically in political, diplomatic, and environmental contexts to criticize shifting responsibility or problems to others. Often carries a negative connotation.

Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
yǐ以
lín邻
wéi为
hè壑
 ,
bǎ把
huán环
jìng境
wū污
rǎn染
zhuǎn转
yí移
dào到
qí其
tā他
guó国
jiā家
 。

We cannot shift our environmental pollution onto other countries.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
yǐ以
lín邻
wéi为
hè壑
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
zuì最
zhōng终
zhǐ只
huì会
hài害
rén人
hài害
jǐ己
 。

This kind of buck-passing approach will ultimately harm both others and oneself.

Show 2 more examples
Zài在
quán全
qiú球
huà化
shí时
dài代
 ,
rèn任
hé何
guó国
jiā家
dōu都
bù不
yīng应
gāi该
yǐ以
lín邻
wéi为
hè壑
 。

In the era of globalization, no country should pass the buck to its neighbors.

Tā他
bǎ把
lā垃
jī圾
dǎo倒
zài在
bié别
rén人
mén门
kǒu口
 ,
zhēn真
shi是
yǐ以
lín邻
wéi为
hè壑
 。

He dumped the garbage at someone else's door, truly shifting his problems onto others.