1.
passing the buck; shifting blame; blame-shifting
The act of attributing one's own responsibility or fault to someone else. A negative behavior often criticized in workplace and interpersonal relationships.
ミスの責任転嫁はやめてほしい。
I wish you would stop shifting blame for mistakes.
上司は自分のミスを部下に責任転嫁した。
The boss shifted blame for his own mistake onto a subordinate.
問題が起きたときに責任転嫁ばかりしていると、信頼を失う。
If you keep shifting blame whenever problems arise, you will lose people's trust.
USAGE:
Always used negatively. A strong criticism of someone's behavior, commonly discussed in workplace contexts, politics, and interpersonal relationships. The four-character compound 責任転嫁 is more formal and weighty than simply saying 人のせいにする (to blame others).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 責任転嫁する (to shift blame)
- 責任転嫁をする人 (a person who shifts blame)
- 責任転嫁は許されない (blame-shifting is unacceptable)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 人のせいにする: to blame others — more colloquial expression
- 責任逃れ: avoiding responsibility — focuses on evading rather than transferring