‘替罪羊’ (tì zuì yáng) literally means ‘substitute sin sheep’ — a direct calque of the English idiom ‘scapegoat’. In ancient religious rituals, a goat was symbolically burdened with people’s sins and then driven into the wilderness; in modern Chinese, the term refers to a person or group unfairly blamed for others’ mistakes or failures. The three characters combine meaningfully: 替 (tì) means ‘to substitute’ or ‘to stand in for’, 罪 (zuì) means ‘sin’ or ‘crime’, and 羊 (yáng) is ‘sheep’ — reflecting the original biblical and cultural imagery.

This noun is used figuratively and carries strong negative connotations, implying injustice, evasion of responsibility, and manipulation. It commonly appears in discussions of politics, workplace dynamics, family conflicts, or media narratives where accountability is avoided. Though rooted in Western tradition, the term is fully naturalized in contemporary Mandarin and understood by all educated speakers.