gèbié: 个别 - Individual, Specific, Just a few, An isolated case

• Keywords: gèbié, 个别, ge bie pinyin, gèbié meaning, Chinese for individual, Chinese for specific case, Chinese for isolated incident, HSK 4 vocabulary, 个别例子, 个别现象.
• Summary: Learn how to use “gèbié” (个别) in Chinese, a crucial HSK 4 word that means more than just “individual.” This page explores its core meaning of “a specific case,” “an isolated incident,” or “just a few,” showing how it's used to single out exceptions from a group. We'll break down the characters, explore the cultural context of collectivism versus individualism, and provide ten practical example sentences to help you master its usage in conversations, formal reports, and everyday life.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gèbié
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Pertaining to a specific, individual case or a small, exceptional minority.
• In a Nutshell: “Gèbié” is like using a spotlight to highlight one or two things out of a larger group. It emphasizes that what you're talking about is an exception, not the norm. Think “a handful,” “a specific few,” or “an isolated case.” It is often used to downplay the significance of a problem (“it's just a few bad apples”) or to stress that a particular situation is not representative of the whole.

• 个 (gè): The most common measure word in Chinese. On its own, it points to a single unit, an “individual,” or “one item.”
• 别 (bié): This character means “to separate,” “to distinguish,” or “other/different.”
• The Combination: The logic is “individually (个) separate (别).” Together, they form a word that perfectly describes something that has been singled out or is distinct from the larger group or norm.

In a culture that often emphasizes the collective (集体, jítǐ), “gèbié” is a powerful and frequently used tool for communication. It allows a speaker to acknowledge an issue, a person, or a situation without indicting the entire group. It's a way of saying, “This thing happened, but it's an outlier, not the standard.” This can be contrasted with the Western tendency to sometimes focus on individual examples to prove a wider point. In China, especially in official or formal contexts, `gèbié` is often used to do the opposite: to contain a problem and frame it as an isolated incident. For example, a company spokesperson might say that 个别产品 (gèbié chǎnpǐn - a few individual products) have a defect, strongly implying that the vast majority are perfectly fine. This maintains the harmony and integrity of the whole, while still addressing the specific exception.

`Gèbié` is a versatile adjective used in both formal and informal settings.

• Downplaying Problems: It's very common in news reports, business meetings, or official statements to minimize the scope of an issue. For instance, “Only a few individual students cheated” frames the problem as contained and not a widespread cheating epidemic.
• Highlighting Specific Needs: It can be used neutrally to refer to specific, individual requirements. A teacher might offer 个别辅导 (gèbié fǔdǎo - individual tutoring) to students who need extra help.
• Describing Exceptions: It is the perfect word to describe something that doesn't follow the general pattern. “Most days are sunny, but a few individual days are rainy.”

It generally carries a neutral tone, but the context determines its ultimate connotation. Using it to describe a negative event can feel like an attempt to downplay its seriousness.

• Example 1:
  • 大部分学生都通过了考试，只有个别学生需要补考。
  • Pinyin: Dàbùfen xuéshēng dōu tōngguò le kǎoshì, zhǐyǒu gèbié xuéshēng xūyào bǔkǎo.
  • English: The majority of students passed the exam; only a few individual students need to retake it.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use of `gèbié` to contrast a small, exceptional group with the majority. It emphasizes that failing was not the norm.
• Example 2:
  • 这家餐厅的服务总体不错，只是个别服务员态度不太好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de fúwù zǒngtǐ búcuò, zhǐshì gèbié fúwùyuán tàidù bú tài hǎo.
  • English: Overall, the service at this restaurant is good; it's just that one or two specific waiters had a bad attitude.
  • Analysis: Here, `gèbié` is used to soften a criticism. The speaker is making it clear they are not condemning the entire staff, just pointing out an isolated issue.
• Example 3:
  • 老师会给有需要的学生提供个别辅导。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī huì gěi yǒu xūyào de xuéshēng tígōng gèbié fǔdǎo.
  • English: The teacher will provide individual tutoring for students who need it.
  • Analysis: This example is neutral. `个别` means “one-on-one” or “individualized,” tailored to a specific person's needs.
• Example 4:
  • 这次发现的问题只是个别现象，不会影响整个项目。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì fāxiàn de wèntí zhǐshì gèbié xiànxiàng, bú huì yǐngxiǎng zhěnggè xiàngmù.
  • English: The problem discovered this time is just an isolated phenomenon; it won't affect the entire project.
  • Analysis: A very common phrase in business or official contexts. It frames a problem as a one-off event, reassuring others that it's not a systemic failure.
• Example 5:
  • 除了个别词语，这篇文章我基本都能看懂。
  • Pinyin: Chúle gèbié cíyǔ, zhè piān wénzhāng wǒ jīběn dōu néng kàndǒng.
  • English: Except for a few specific words, I can basically understand this entire article.
  • Analysis: `个别` here simply means “a small number of specific” items, highlighting the exceptions to the speaker's general understanding.
• Example 6:
  • 每个人的情况不同，我们需要处理个别案例。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge rén de qíngkuàng bùtóng, wǒmen xūyào chǔlǐ gèbié ànlì.
  • English: Everyone's situation is different; we need to handle individual cases.
  • Analysis: Here, `个别` is similar to “case-by-case.” It stresses the need to look at specific instances separately rather than applying a single rule to everyone.
• Example 7:
  • 个别地区今天下午可能会有雷阵雨。
  • Pinyin: Gèbié dìqū jīntiān xiàwǔ kěnéng huì yǒu léizhènyǔ.
  • English: A few isolated areas might have thunderstorms this afternoon.
  • Analysis: Used in weather forecasts to indicate that a phenomenon will not be widespread, but will affect specific, separate locations.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然公司规定不能迟到，但老板对个别情况会表示理解。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán gōngsī guīdìng bùnéng chídào, dàn lǎobǎn duì gèbié qíngkuàng huì biǎoshì lǐjiě.
  • English: Although the company rule is not to be late, the boss will be understanding of exceptional situations.
  • Analysis: `个别情况` means “exceptional circumstances” or “special cases.”
• Example 9:
  • 这是个别人的看法，不代表我们团队的立场。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì gèbié rén de kànfǎ, bù dàibiǎo wǒmen tuánduì de lìchǎng.
  • English: This is the opinion of a few individuals; it does not represent our team's position.
  • Analysis: A powerful way to distance a group from the opinion of one or two members, again emphasizing the exception versus the collective.
• Example 10:
  • 你需要个别谈话吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào gèbié tánhuà ma?
  • English: Do you need to have a private/one-on-one talk?
  • Analysis: `个别谈话` refers to a private conversation, often between a superior and a subordinate (e.g., manager and employee, teacher and student).

• `个别 (gèbié)` vs. `个人 (gèrén)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • `个别` means “a few, specific, exceptional cases” out of a larger group. It's about being an exception.
  • `个人` means “personal” or “individual” as it relates to a person. It refers to things like privacy, opinion, or belongings.
  • Correct: 这是我的个人看法。(Zhè shì wǒ de gèrén kànfǎ. - This is my personal opinion.)
  • Incorrect: 这是我的个别看法。(This sounds like your opinion is a weird exception among your own thoughts.)
  • Correct: 个别人有不同的看法。( Gèbié rén yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ. - A few individual people have a different opinion.)
• `个别 (gèbié)` vs. `一些 (yìxiē)`:
  • `一些` means “some,” an indefinite and often neutral quantity. It could be a little or a lot.
  • `个别` specifically implies “a small and exceptional number.”
  • If 30 out of 100 people agree, you'd use `一些人`. If only 2 or 3 agree, `个别` is a much better word because it highlights how small and unusual that group is.

• 个人 (gèrén) - Personal, individual (relating to a person, not an exception).
• 少数 (shǎoshù) - Minority, a small number. `个别` often implies an even smaller, more specific number than `少数`.
• 特殊 (tèshū) - Special, particular, unusual. `特殊情况` (special circumstances) is very similar to `个别情况`.
• 例外 (lìwài) - An exception. `个别` is often used to describe something that is a `例外`.
• 单独 (dāndú) - Alone, separately. Focuses on doing something by oneself, while `个别` focuses on being a separate case from a group.
• 普遍 (pǔbiàn) - Universal, widespread, common. This is a direct antonym to `个别`.
• 集体 (jítǐ) - Collective, group. The conceptual opposite of the individual focus in `个别`.
• 一些 (yìxiē) - Some, a few. A more general and neutral term for an indefinite quantity.