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背锅 (Bēiguō): Why Chinese Say “Carry the Wok” When It’s NOT Your Fault | Chinese Slang Explained
Ever been blamed for something you didn’t do?
In Chinese, there’s a perfect word for that: 背锅 (bēiguō) — literally “to carry the wok.” But why a wok? And how did this become one of the most relatable Chinese internet slang terms today?
In this episode of TrendyChinese 舌尖上的中文, we break down the meaning, origin, and real-life usage of 背锅 — from “锅从天上来” (blame out of nowhere) to “这锅我不背” (I’m not taking this one) and 甩锅 (passing the blame).
You’ll also discover how different cultures describe this exact feeling:
English: take the fall, scapegoat
Japanese: “wearing a wet shirt”
Korean: “getting…
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