'Tī pí qiú' literally means 'to kick a leather ball' — an image drawn from traditional Chinese football (cuju), where players passed a leather ball among themselves. Figuratively, it describes the act of avoiding responsibility by shifting it repeatedly from one person or department to another, like a ball being kicked back and forth without ever being caught or acted upon.

This idiom is commonly used in workplace, bureaucratic, or organizational contexts — especially when problems linger unresolved due to lack of accountability. It carries a negative connotation, implying inefficiency, evasion, and institutional dysfunction. Unlike neutral terms for delegation, 'tī pí qiú' always suggests deliberate avoidance rather than legitimate task-sharing. It's widely understood in both spoken and written Mandarin and frequently appears in news reports, office discussions, and social commentary about administrative delays.