====== bìmian: 避免 - To Avoid, Avert, Prevent ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** avoid in Chinese, prevent in Chinese, how to say avoid, bimian, 避免, bimian meaning, avoiding conflict in Chinese, Chinese verb for prevent, HSK 4 vocabulary, avert, steer clear of
  * **Summary:** Learn how to use the common and essential Chinese verb **避免 (bìmiǎn)** to say 'to avoid,' 'avert,' or 'prevent.' This comprehensive guide explores its core meaning, character breakdown, and crucial role in Chinese culture, particularly in avoiding conflict. With 10 practical example sentences and analysis, beginners can master how to use 避免 (bìmiǎn) to prevent undesirable situations and navigate social interactions effectively.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bìmiǎn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To avoid, avert, or prevent something undesirable from happening.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **避免 (bìmiǎn)** is about taking deliberate action to steer clear of a negative outcome, situation, or conflict. It's not just about physically dodging something, but about thoughtfully planning or acting in a way that ensures a bad thing doesn't occur. It implies a conscious effort to prevent a problem before it starts.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **避 (bì):** This character means "to avoid," "to evade," or "to dodge." It's composed of the radical ⻌ (chuò), which signifies movement or walking, and the phonetic component 辟 (bì). Together, they paint a picture of actively moving away from something to evade it.
  * **免 (miǎn):** This character means "to excuse from," "to exempt," or "to avoid." Its ancient form depicted a person removing a helmet, symbolizing being freed or excused from a duty, danger, or punishment.
  * When combined, **避免 (bìmiǎn)** literally means "to evade and be freed from." This captures the essence of the word: you take action (避) to achieve the result of being free from a negative consequence (免).
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **The Art of Avoiding Conflict:** In Chinese culture, maintaining social **[[和谐]] (héxié) - harmony** is often a paramount goal. **避免 (bìmiǎn)** is a key tool for achieving this. Rather than addressing disagreements with direct confrontation, which can cause people to lose **[[面子]] (miànzi) - face**, it is often considered more skillful and mature to **避免冲突 (bìmiǎn chōngtū) - avoid conflict** altogether.
  * **Western vs. Chinese Approaches:** In many Western cultures, especially American culture, directness is often valued. Phrases like "let's clear the air" or "addressing the elephant in the room" are common. While not a universal rule, the traditional Chinese approach often favors indirectness and subtlety to preserve relationships. Using **避免 (bìmiǎn)** to steer a conversation away from a sensitive topic isn't seen as dishonest, but as a socially intelligent way to protect group harmony. It's a strategy for long-term relationship stability over short-term, potentially disruptive, truth-telling.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Formal and Official Contexts:** You will frequently see **避免 (bìmiǎn)** in news reports, official documents, instructions, and business proposals. It's used to discuss preventing risks, accidents, or misunderstandings.
    *   e.g., //避免经济损失// (bìmiǎn jīngjì sǔnshī) - to avoid economic losses.
  * **Everyday Advice and Conversation:** It is also very common in daily life when giving or receiving advice, especially concerning health, safety, or planning.
    *   e.g., //避免吃太多糖// (bìmiǎn chī tài duō táng) - to avoid eating too much sugar.
  * **Connotation:** The word is generally neutral and functional. It describes a practical action taken to achieve a better outcome. It carries a sense of prudence and foresight.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 为了**避免**错误，你应该再检查一遍。
    * Pinyin: Wèile **bìmiǎn** cuòwù, nǐ yīnggāi zài jiǎnchá yī biàn.
    * English: In order to avoid mistakes, you should check it one more time.
    * Analysis: A very common and practical usage. **避免** is used here to mean "preventing" a negative outcome (mistakes).
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 我们早点儿出发吧，可以**避免**交通堵塞。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen zǎodiǎnr chūfā ba, kěyǐ **bìmiǎn** jiāotōng dǔsè.
    * English: Let's set off a bit earlier, we can avoid the traffic jam.
    * Analysis: This shows **避免** used for planning ahead to steer clear of a predictable problem.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 他在会议上总是**避免**和老板有直接的冲突。
    * Pinyin: Tā zài huìyì shàng zǒngshì **bìmiǎn** hé lǎobǎn yǒu zhíjiē de chōngtū.
    * English: He always avoids direct conflict with the boss during meetings.
    * Analysis: This is a perfect example of the cultural significance of **避免**, used here to navigate workplace hierarchy and maintain harmony.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 为了**避免**误会，请把你的意思说明白。
    * Pinyin: Wèile **bìmiǎn** wùhuì, qǐng bǎ nǐ de yìsi shuō míngbái.
    * English: To avoid misunderstandings, please explain your meaning clearly.
    * Analysis: **避免** is often paired with abstract concepts like "misunderstandings" or "trouble."
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 医生建议他**避免**所有含糖的饮料。
    * Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì tā **bìmiǎn** suǒyǒu hán táng de yǐnliào.
    * English: The doctor advised him to avoid all sugary drinks.
    * Analysis: A standard use of **避免** in the context of health and lifestyle advice.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 采取这些措施是为了**避免**事故再次发生。
    * Pinyin: Cǎiqǔ zhèxiē cuòshī shì wèile **bìmiǎn** shìgù zàicì fāshēng.
    * English: Adopting these measures is for the purpose of preventing the accident from happening again.
    * Analysis: This sentence shows **避免** in a more formal, preventative context, similar to the English word "prevent."
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 她在谈话中有意地**避免**了那个敏感话题。
    * Pinyin: Tā zài tánhuà zhōng yǒuyì de **bìmiǎn** le nàge mǐngǎn huàtí.
    * English: She intentionally avoided that sensitive topic during the conversation.
    * Analysis: This highlights the deliberate and conscious nature of the action of **避免**.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 这场危机是无法**避免**的。
    * Pinyin: Zhè chǎng wēijī shì wúfǎ **bìmiǎn** de.
    * English: This crisis was unavoidable.
    * Analysis: Shows the negative form, **无法避免 (wúfǎ bìmiǎn)**, meaning "unavoidable" or "inevitable."
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 我们应该**避免**在公共场所大声说话。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi **bìmiǎn** zài gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ dàshēng shuōhuà.
    * English: We should avoid speaking loudly in public places.
    * Analysis: This is about avoiding a behavior that could lead to a negative social outcome (disturbing others).
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 只要我们小心，很多危险都是可以**避免**的。
    * Pinyin: Zhǐyào wǒmen xiǎoxīn, hěn duō wēixiǎn dōu shì kěyǐ **bìmiǎn** de.
    * English: As long as we are careful, many dangers can be avoided.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates the common structure **可以避免 (kěyǐ bìmiǎn)**, meaning "can be avoided" or "is avoidable."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`避免 (bìmiǎn)` vs. `躲 (duǒ)`:** This is a key distinction for learners.
    * **避免 (bìmiǎn)** is about prevention and planning. You **避免** traffic by leaving early. You **避免** getting sick by washing your hands. It's strategic.
    * **[[躲]] (duǒ)** is about physically hiding or dodging something immediate and often unexpected. You **躲** behind a tree. You **躲** a ball flying at your head. It's reactive.
    * //Incorrect:// 我**避免**了那辆开得很快的车。(I avoided that fast-moving car.) -> This sounds unnatural.
    * //Correct:// 我**躲**开了那辆开得很快的车。(I dodged that fast-moving car.)
  * **`避免 (bìmiǎn)` vs. `逃避 (táobì)`:**
    * **避免 (bìmiǎn)** is neutral. It's often a wise action to prevent a bad outcome.
    * **[[逃避]] (táobì)** means "to escape" or "to evade" and has a strong negative connotation. It implies you are shirking a responsibility or duty. You **逃避** reality (逃避现实), you **逃避** your responsibilities (逃避责任). You don't **避免** them.
  * **Common Mistake:** Using **避免** for simply "not doing" something. **避免** is used specifically to prevent a negative consequence.
    * //Incorrect:// 我今天**避免**了做作业。 (I avoided doing homework today.) -> This implies doing homework has a specific negative consequence you are trying to prevent, which is awkward.
    * //Correct:// 我今天没做作业。(I didn't do my homework today.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[躲]] (duǒ)** - To hide from, to dodge. A more physical and immediate action than **避免**.
  * **[[逃避]] (táobì)** - To escape, to evade (a responsibility). A stronger, more negative term implying cowardice or irresponsibility.
  * **[[防止]] (fángzhǐ)** - To prevent, to guard against. Focuses more on proactive measures and barriers to stop something from happening. Very similar to **避免** but often used for more concrete prevention.
  * **[[预防]] (yùfáng)** - To prevent, to take precautions. Primarily used in medical or safety contexts, e.g., **预防**疾病 (yùfáng jíbìng) - to prevent disease.
  * **[[绕开]] (ràokāi)** - To go around, to bypass. A more literal term for avoiding something, like bypassing a roadblock or a sensitive question in a discussion.
  * **[[避免冲突]] (bìmiǎn chōngtū)** - To avoid conflict. A very common and culturally important phrase.
  * **[[和谐]] (héxié)** - Harmony. The social goal that is often achieved by **避免**ing confrontation.
  * **[[面子]] (miànzi)** - "Face," social standing, prestige. Avoiding conflict is a primary way to help everyone save **面子**.