倾向

• Pinyin: qīng xiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 倾 = 亻(person) + 顷 (moment) — to lean; 向 = 宀 (roof) + 口 (mouth) — direction

Meaning

Tendency; inclination; to tend toward. A leaning or preference in a particular direction.

Used as both noun (tendency, inclination) and verb (to incline toward, to lean toward). Common in discussions of preferences, biases, trends, and psychological dispositions. Often appears in political, social, and academic contexts.

Examples

1. 年轻一代有越来越倾向于在网上购物的趋势。 The younger generation increasingly tends toward shopping online.
2. 他的政治倾向比较保守。 His political inclinations are relatively conservative.
3. 我倾向于接受这个方案，但还需要再考虑一下细节。 I'm inclined to accept this plan, but I need to consider the details further.

Usage Guide

Context: preferences, trends, analysis

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 我倾向于同意你的看法。(I'm inclined to agree with your view.)
• 这种倾向值得关注。(This tendency is worth paying attention to.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'倾向'和'偏向' (Don't confuse 倾向 tendency/inclination with 偏向 bias/favoritism — the latter implies unfairness)

Origin & History

Compound of 倾 (lean, incline, pour) and 向 (direction, toward). Together they describe leaning in a particular direction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal