偏

• Pinyin: piān
• Hanzi breakdown: 偏 = 亻(person) + 扁 (flat) — a person leaning to one side

Meaning

Biased; inclined; contrary to expectations. As an adverb: stubbornly, insistently, or unfortunately.

Expresses deviation from center, norm, or expectation. As an adjective, it means slanted or biased. As an adverb, it indicates doing something contrary to advice or expectations, or something happening at an inopportune time. Often conveys stubbornness or irony of circumstance.

Examples

1. 我叫他别去，他偏要去，结果吃了亏。 I told him not to go, but he insisted, and ended up suffering for it.
2. 这篇文章的观点太偏了，缺乏客观性。 The viewpoint of this article is too biased and lacks objectivity.
3. 偏偏在我最忙的时候，电脑坏了。 Just when I was busiest, my computer broke down.

Usage Guide

Context: stubborn actions, bad timing, bias

Tone: frustrated

Do Say

• 你让我往东，我偏往西。(You tell me to go east, but I insist on going west.)
• 他的看法有点偏。(His view is a bit biased.)

Don't Say

• 我偏喜欢咖啡。(偏 implies defiance — use 更 or 比较 for simple preference)

Origin & History

Composed of 亻(person) and 扁 (flat, slanted). Originally meant leaning to one side, extended to bias, deviation, and contrary action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal