Dodge mandarin, for example (4)
I believe the answer is:
duck
'dodge' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for duck that I've seen before include "Use one's wits to get something" , "poor score?" , "See 16" , "Dip" , "Bird - lower your head!" .)