片面

• Pinyin: piàn miàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 片 = half of a split piece of wood — one side; 面 = a face/surface — one aspect. Together: seeing only one side

Meaning

One-sided; partial; lopsided. Describes a view, judgement, or approach that only considers one aspect and ignores the full picture.

An adjective used to critique incomplete reasoning or biased perspectives. Common collocations include 片面的看法 (one-sided view), 片面理解 (partial understanding), 片面追求 (one-sided pursuit of). Often appears in discussions about analysis, arguments, and decision-making. The opposite would be 全面 (comprehensive/all-round).

Examples

1. 你的看法太片面了，应该从多个角度去思考。 Your view is too one-sided — you should think about it from multiple angles.
2. 不能片面地追求经济增长，也要关注环境保护。 We can't one-sidedly pursue economic growth; we must also pay attention to environmental protection.
3. 只听一方的说法是很片面的。 Only listening to one side's account is very one-sided.

Usage Guide

Context: discussion, analysis, debate

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 这样的分析太片面了。(This kind of analysis is too one-sided.)
• 我们不能用片面的观点来评价一个人。(We shouldn't judge a person with a one-sided perspective.)

Don't Say

• 这张纸很片面 (Don't use 片面 for physical flatness or thinness — it only describes biased or incomplete views; for flat objects, use 薄 or 平)

Origin & History

A compound of 片 (slice/piece/one side) and 面 (face/side/aspect) — seeing only one face or one slice of the whole.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal