====== cǎifǎng: 采访 - To Interview, To Cover (a story) ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 采访, caifang, interview in Chinese, Chinese for interview, gather news Chinese, cover a story Chinese, Chinese journalism, reporter in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **采访 (cǎifǎng)**, the essential Chinese verb for "to interview" or "to cover a story." This page is perfect for learners wanting to understand its use in media, journalism, and research. Learn the critical difference between a journalistic interview (采访) and a job interview (面试), explore its cultural significance in modern China, and master its usage with over 10 practical example sentences and clear analysis.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** cǎi fǎng
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To gather information by visiting and asking questions, typically for journalistic or research purposes.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a reporter holding a microphone, a student conducting a survey, or a documentarian filming a subject. The action they are performing is **采访**. It's not just "asking questions" (`问`); it's a formal, purposeful process of gathering information from a source. It implies a goal, like writing a news report, a research paper, or creating a piece of media content.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **采 (cǎi):** This character means "to pick," "to gather," or "to collect." Its traditional form often included a hand (爫) over a tree (木), vividly picturing the act of picking fruit or leaves. This character gives **采访** its sense of actively //collecting// information.
  * **访 (fǎng):** This character means "to visit" or "to inquire." The left part is the speech radical `讠 (yán)`, indicating something related to speaking. The right part, `方 (fāng)`, provides the sound. This character contributes the idea of //visiting and asking//.
When combined, **采访 (cǎifǎng)** literally means "to gather by visiting and inquiring." This breakdown perfectly captures the modern meaning of a formal interview.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, the act of **采访** is often viewed with a degree of formality. It's an interaction with a specific purpose, usually conducted by a professional like a journalist (`记者`) or a researcher.
A key cultural comparison is the distinction between a journalistic interview and a job interview. In English, we use "interview" for both. In Chinese, this is a critical mistake.
  * **采访 (cǎifǎng):** For journalism, media, and research. The goal is to gather information for an audience.
  * **面试 (miànshì):** Strictly for a job or school admission interview. The goal is to be evaluated.
While Western journalism often champions an adversarial or "watchdog" style of interviewing, traditional media **采访** in China can sometimes be more focused on presenting information or showcasing the achievements of an individual or organization, especially in state-run media. However, with the rise of independent media and diverse online platforms, the styles of **采访** have become much more varied, mirroring global trends. The core idea, however, remains: it's a structured process of information gathering, not a casual chat.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**采访** is a common and important word in professional and academic contexts.
  * **Media and Journalism:** This is the most frequent use. You'll see it constantly in the news. For example, `记者正在**采访**一位目击者` (The reporter is interviewing an eyewitness).
  * **Academic and Market Research:** Students or professors might **采访** experts for a thesis. A company might **采访** consumers to gather feedback on a new product.
  * **Formality:** It is a formal verb. You would not use **采访** to describe asking your friend where they went for dinner. For that, you would simply use `问 (wèn)`. Using **采访** in a casual context would sound strange or sarcastic.
  * **Receiving an Interview:** The common way to say "to be interviewed" is `接受采访 (jiēshòu cǎifǎng)`, which literally means "to accept an interview."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 昨天，中央电视台的记者**采访**了那位著名的科学家。
    * Pinyin: Zuótiān, Zhōngyāng Diànshìtái de jìzhě **cǎifǎng** le nà wèi zhùmíng de kēxuéjiā.
    * English: Yesterday, a reporter from CCTV interviewed that famous scientist.
    * Analysis: This is a classic example of **采访** used in a formal media context. `中央电视台 (CCTV)` is the main state television broadcaster in China, adding to the formality.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 为了我的毕业论文，我需要**采访**十位本地企业家。
    * Pinyin: Wèile wǒ de bìyè lùnwén, wǒ xūyào **cǎifǎng** shí wèi běndì qǐyèjiā.
    * English: For my graduation thesis, I need to interview ten local entrepreneurs.
    * Analysis: This shows the use of **采访** in an academic research context. It's a formal project, so **采访** is the appropriate word.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 他很有名，但是他很少接受媒体的**采访**。
    * Pinyin: Tā hěn yǒumíng, dànshì tā hěn shǎo jiēshòu méitǐ de **cǎifǎng**.
    * English: He is very famous, but he rarely accepts interviews from the media.
    * Analysis: Here, **采访** is used as a noun ("an interview"). The phrase `接受采访 (jiēshòu cǎifǎng)` is a very common and important collocation meaning "to be interviewed."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这次**采访**将在明天早上十点进行。
    * Pinyin: Zhè cì **cǎifǎng** jiāng zài míngtiān zǎoshang shí diǎn jìnxíng.
    * English: This interview will be conducted at 10 AM tomorrow morning.
    * Analysis: Another example of **采访** as a noun. `进行 (jìnxíng)` means "to carry out" or "to conduct" and is often paired with formal activities like meetings or interviews.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你好，我是校报的记者，可以**采访**你几分钟吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì xiàobào de jìzhě, kěyǐ **cǎifǎng** nǐ jǐ fēnzhōng ma?
    * English: Hello, I'm a reporter for the school newspaper. May I interview you for a few minutes?
    * Analysis: This demonstrates a polite way to request an interview in a semi-formal setting like a school.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 由于行程紧张，这位官员拒绝了所有**采访**请求。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú xíngchéng jǐnzhāng, zhè wèi guānyuán jùjuéle suǒyǒu **cǎifǎng** qǐngqiú.
    * English: Due to a tight schedule, the official declined all interview requests.
    * Analysis: This shows the opposite of accepting an interview: `拒绝采访 (jùjué cǎifǎng)`, or to refuse an interview.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 记者们在会议结束后，试图**采访**参会代表。
    * Pinyin: Jìzhěmen zài huìyì jiéshù hòu, shìtú **cǎifǎng** cānhuì dàibiǎo.
    * English: After the meeting ended, the reporters tried to interview the attendees.
    * Analysis: `试图 (shìtú)` means "to attempt," showing that the action of interviewing might not always be successful.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这篇报道是基于对多名受访者的深入**采访**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè piān bàodào shì jīyú duì duō míng shòufǎngzhě de shēnrù **cǎifǎng**.
    * English: This report is based on in-depth interviews with multiple interviewees.
    * Analysis: `深入 (shēnrù)` means "in-depth," modifying **采访** to describe a more thorough and detailed interview process. `受访者 (shòufǎngzhě)` is the specific word for "interviewee."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我们可以通过电话或视频进行**采访**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ tōngguò diànhuà huò shìpín jìnxíng **cǎifǎng**.
    * English: We can conduct the interview via phone or video call.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights modern methods of conducting an interview, showing the term's adaptability.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他的回答在**采访**中显得非常诚恳。
    * Pinyin: Tā de huídá zài **cǎifǎng** zhōng xiǎnde fēicháng chéngkěn.
    * English: His answers seemed very sincere during the interview.
    * Analysis: Shows how to describe something that happens "during the interview" (`在采访中`).
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Critical Mistake: `采访` vs. `面试`**
    * This is the most common error for English speakers. Do //not// use **采访** for a job interview.
    * **Incorrect:** `我明天有一个**采访**，希望能得到这份工作。` (I have an interview tomorrow, I hope to get this job.)
    * **Correct:** `我明天有一个**面试 (miànshì)**，希望能得到这份工作。`
    * Remember: **采访 (cǎifǎng)** = Journalism/Research. **面试 (miànshì)** = Job/School Application.
  * **`采访` vs. `访问 (fǎngwèn)`**
    * `访问 (fǎngwèn)` means "to visit" in a formal capacity (e.g., a president `访问` another country) and can sometimes be used to mean "interview," especially in academic or formal written contexts. However, **采访** is more specific to the act of asking questions to gather news or data. For a journalistic interview, **采访** is almost always the better and more common choice.
  * **`采访` vs. `问 (wèn)`**
    * Don't use **采访** for casual questions. It's too formal and implies a structured process. If you're just asking your classmate a question, use `问 (wèn)`.
    * **Incorrect:** `我想**采访**你今天午饭吃了什么。` (Sounds like you're a food critic investigating their lunch.)
    * **Correct:** `我想**问**你今天午饭吃了什么。` (I want to ask what you had for lunch today.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[记者]] (jìzhě) - Journalist, reporter. The person who performs the **采访**.
  * [[面试]] (miànshì) - Job interview. A crucial term to distinguish from **采访**.
  * [[访问]] (fǎngwèn) - To visit (formally); can be a synonym for a formal interview but is much broader in meaning.
  * [[报道]] (bàodào) - (To create a) news report. The typical end product of a journalistic **采访**.
  * [[新闻]] (xīnwén) - News. The field or subject matter that a **采访** often relates to.
  * [[媒体]] (méitǐ) - Media. The industry that employs journalists who conduct **采访**.
  * [[提问]] (tíwèn) - To ask a question; to raise a question. The specific action done repeatedly during a **采访**.
  * [[受访者]] (shòufǎngzhě) - Interviewee. The person who `接受采访` (accepts an interview).
  * [[调查]] (diàochá) - To investigate; an investigation. Related to information gathering, but often implies a broader search for facts rather than a direct Q&A with a source.
  * [[发布会]] (fābùhuì) - Press conference. A common event where many reporters can **采访** a spokesperson at once.