狭隘

• Pinyin: xiá 'ài
• Hanzi breakdown: 狭 = 犭+ 夹 (dog/animal radical + between — narrow, hemmed in); 隘 = 阜 + 益 (mound/hill + overflow — a narrow pass, restricted)

Meaning

Narrow-minded; limited in perspective; parochial. Used both literally (a narrow space) and figuratively (a restricted worldview or thinking).

Most commonly used figuratively to criticise a person's limited perspective, excessive self-interest, or inability to see beyond their immediate situation. Contrasts with 宽广 (broad) or 开明 (enlightened). A negative characterisation.

Examples

1. 他的眼界太过狭隘，总以为自己所在的城市就是整个世界。 His perspective is far too narrow—he thinks the city he lives in is the whole world.
2. 这种狭隘的民族主义思想在全球化时代只会带来更多的对立与冲突。 This narrow-minded nationalism will only bring more confrontation and conflict in an era of globalization.
3. 我们应当克服狭隘的地方保护主义，建立更加开放的区域合作机制。 We should overcome narrow local protectionism and build a more open mechanism for regional cooperation.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, sociology, ethics, criticism, education

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 许多社区冲突看似源于资源竞争，深层却是狭隘的群体认同，把外群体的正常行为也看成威胁。(Many community conflicts seem to come from resource competition, but at a deeper level they stem from narrow group identity, which makes even normal behaviour from outsiders seem threatening.)
• 大学教育要帮助学生突破应试形成的狭隘视野，通过跨学科课程和交流，建立更开放的认知框架。(University education should help students break through the narrow outlook formed by exam-oriented schooling and build a more open cognitive framework through interdisciplinary courses and exchange.)

Don't Say

• 狭隘 to describe a physically narrow space in neutral contexts — while it can be used literally, in modern Chinese it is strongly associated with criticism of narrow-mindedness; for a neutral description of physical narrowness use 狭窄 instead

Origin & History

狭 (narrow — 犭+ 夹, dog radical + pinched = squeezed narrow) + 隘 (narrow, restricted — 阜 + 益, mound + overflow = a narrow pass) — doubly narrow, both in space and in thinking

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal