偏差

• Pinyin: piān chā
• Hanzi breakdown: 偏 = 亻 + 扁 (person + flat/off-centre — leaning to one side); 差 = 羊 + 工 (sheep + work — difference, discrepancy)

Meaning

Deviation; discrepancy; a systematic or random departure from an expected standard, norm, or target; error or bias in measurement or judgment.

Used in scientific, statistical, educational, and policy contexts. 偏差 can describe measurement error, cognitive bias, policy deviation, or the gap between a student's actual and expected performance. Key collocations: 存在偏差, 产生偏差, 纠正偏差, 系统性偏差.

Examples

1. 实验数据与理论预测之间存在较大偏差，研究团队决定重新设计测量方案以排除系统误差。 There was a major discrepancy between the experimental data and the theoretical predictions, so the research team decided to redesign the measurement plan to rule out systematic error.
2. 长期依赖单一信息来源容易在认知上产生偏差，导致对复杂问题的判断流于片面和主观。 Relying on a single source of information for a long time can easily create cognitive bias, leading to one-sided and subjective judgments about complex issues.
3. 政策执行过程中出现的种种偏差，往往根源在于基层干部对上级指示的理解与实际情况之间存在落差。 The various deviations that arise during policy implementation often stem from a gap between how grassroots officials understand higher-level directives and the realities on the ground.

Usage Guide

Context: science, statistics, education, policy

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该评估模型在处理极端值时会产生明显的系统性偏差，因此在实际应用中需要引入修正系数以提高预测的准确性。(This evaluation model produces noticeable systematic deviations when handling extreme values; therefore, a correction factor must be introduced in practical application to improve prediction accuracy.)
• 教学评价体系若过于侧重笔试成绩，会对动手能力强但书面表达欠佳的学生产生系统性偏差，影响对其综合能力的公正判断。(If a teaching evaluation system focuses too heavily on written test scores, it will produce systematic bias against students with strong practical skills but weaker written expression, affecting fair assessment of their overall abilities.)

Don't Say

• 他的答案偏差了 — this construction is awkward; say 他的答案存在偏差 or 他的答案偏离了标准答案

Origin & History

偏 (slanted, off-centre) + 差 (difference, discrepancy) — a slanting away from the expected norm

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal