1.
to give a vague or evasive answer; to gloss over something; to muddle through without addressing the real issue
To avoid giving a clear or honest response by being deliberately vague, changing the subject, or offering a superficial reply. Often used when someone wants to avoid confrontation or accountability.
質問にお茶を濁して答えた。
I gave an evasive answer to the question.
いつもお茶を濁してばかりいないで、本当のことを言ってほしい。
I want you to tell me the truth instead of always being evasive.
政治家は具体的な回答を避け、お茶を濁すような発言に終始した。
The politician avoided giving concrete answers and stuck to vague, evasive statements throughout.
Literally "to make the tea cloudy." The origin is debated, but one theory is that an unskilled host, unable to perform the tea ceremony properly, would stir the tea vigorously to make it look frothy and thus hide the poor quality.
This idiom always carries a negative connotation — the speaker views the evasion as dishonest or unsatisfying.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- お茶を濁すような答え: an evasive answer
- お茶を濁してばかりいる: to always be evasive
- お茶を濁さないで: don't be evasive
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 誤魔化す: to deceive; to fudge — broader; includes active deception, not just vagueness
- 言葉を濁す: to be vague in one's words — similar but focuses specifically on unclear language
- はぐらかす: to dodge (a question); to deflect — focuses on the act of evading, often by changing the subject