piānjiàn: 偏见 - Prejudice, Bias

• Keywords: pianjian, piānjiàn, 偏见, prejudice, bias, stereotype, Chinese prejudice, Chinese bias, what is pianjian, how to use pianjian, Chinese social attitudes
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 偏见 (piānjiàn), which translates to “prejudice” or “bias.” This page provides a comprehensive guide for English-speaking learners on its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage. Understand how to identify and discuss prejudice in Chinese, from everyday conversations about stereotypes to deeper discussions on social issues, and avoid common mistakes learners make.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): piānjiàn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A preconceived opinion or judgment that is not based on reason or actual experience; prejudice or bias.
• In a Nutshell: 偏见 (piānjiàn) is the primary word in Chinese for “prejudice.” It carries a strong negative connotation, describing an unfair, one-sided, and often emotionally charged viewpoint. Think of it literally as a “slanted view”—it implies that someone is not seeing a person, group, or situation clearly and objectively, but rather through a distorted lens of preconceived notions.

• 偏 (piān): This character means “slanted,” “leaning,” “inclined,” or “partial.” The left-side radical, 亻, is the “person” radical, suggesting this is a human tendency. Imagine someone physically leaning to one side, unable to stand straight—that's the feeling of 偏 (piān).
• 见 (jiàn): This character simply means “to see,” “a view,” or “an opinion.” It's one of the most fundamental characters related to perception.
• Together, 偏见 (piānjiàn) literally translates to a “slanted view” or “partial seeing.” This is a beautifully intuitive construction, as it perfectly captures the essence of prejudice: seeing the world not as it is, but from a biased, incomplete angle.

In Chinese culture, which highly values social harmony (和谐, héxié) and objectivity, 偏见 (piānjiàn) is seen as a significant personal and social flaw. It disrupts relationships and clouds judgment. While prejudice exists in all cultures, its specific manifestations in China are often tied to:

• Regionalism (地域偏见, dìyù piānjiàn): Stereotypes about people from different provinces are common. For example, people from Shanghai might be stereotyped as shrewd and materialistic, while people from Northeast China (东北, Dōngběi) might be seen as boisterous and unsophisticated. These biases are frequent topics of conversation and social commentary.
• Urban vs. Rural Divide: A significant source of 偏见 exists between city dwellers and people from the countryside. Urbanites may hold prejudiced views of rural people as being uneducated or backward, while rural people might see city dwellers as arrogant and disconnected from “real life.”
• Generational Gaps: Like in many cultures, older generations may hold 偏见 against the attitudes and lifestyles of the youth, and vice-versa.

Comparison to Western “Prejudice”: The core meaning of 偏见 (piānjiàn) is almost identical to the English word “prejudice.” The key difference lies not in the definition, but in the most common societal flashpoints. In the West, discussions of prejudice often center heavily on race, ethnicity, and religion. In China, while those issues exist, 偏见 is more frequently discussed in the context of one's place of origin (籍贯, jíguàn), social class (especially the urban/rural divide), and appearance. Understanding this helps you grasp the specific social dynamics at play when you hear the word 偏见 used in China.

偏见 is a common and powerful word used in various situations. It's almost always negative and is a direct criticism of someone's way of thinking.

• In Daily Conversation: People use it to call out unfair assumptions. For example, if someone assumes you can't use chopsticks because you're a foreigner, you could later say, “He has a prejudice against foreigners” (他对老外有偏见).
• In Media and Social Commentary: Journalists and bloggers frequently use 偏见 to critique biased reporting, discriminatory policies, or societal stereotypes. Phrases like “eliminate prejudice” (消除偏见, xiāochú piānjiàn) and “full of prejudice” (充满偏见, chōngmǎn piānjiàn) are common.
• At Work: Accusing a manager of having 偏见 is a serious charge, implying favoritism or unfair treatment based on something other than merit.

• Example 1:
  • 我们应该努力消除社会中的各种偏见。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi nǔlì xiāochú shèhuì zhōng de gèzhǒng piānjiàn.
  • English: We should work hard to eliminate all kinds of prejudice in society.
  • Analysis: This is a formal and socially conscious sentence, often seen in articles or speeches. `消除 (xiāochú)` means “to eliminate,” a common verb paired with `偏见`.
• Example 2:
  • 他对女人当领导这件事有很深的偏见。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì nǚrén dāng lǐngdǎo zhè jiàn shì yǒu hěn shēn de piānjiàn.
  • English: He has a deep-seated prejudice against women being leaders.
  • Analysis: This example shows how to specify what the prejudice is about using the `对…有偏见 (duì…yǒu piānjiàn)` structure.
• Example 3:
  • 请你放下偏见，给我一个公平的机会。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ fàngxià piānjiàn, gěi wǒ yí ge gōngpíng de jīhuì.
  • English: Please put aside your prejudice and give me a fair chance.
  • Analysis: `放下 (fàngxià)` means “to put down” or “let go of.” This is a powerful, direct appeal for someone to change their biased mindset.
• Example 4:
  • 你是不是对我有偏见？为什么你总是针对我？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì duì wǒ yǒu piānjiàn? Wèishénme nǐ zǒngshì zhēnduì wǒ?
  • English: Are you prejudiced against me? Why are you always targeting me?
  • Analysis: A very direct and confrontational question. `针对 (zhēnduì)` means “to target,” which is often seen as the action resulting from `偏见`.
• Example 5:
  • 很多人对这个城市有偏见，但其实它非常友好。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén duì zhège chéngshì yǒu piānjiàn, dàn qíshí tā fēicháng yǒuhǎo.
  • English: A lot of people are prejudiced against this city, but it's actually very friendly.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how `偏见` can be applied to places, not just people or groups.
• Example 6:
  • 他的话里充满了偏见和傲慢。
  • Pinyin: Tā de huà lǐ chōngmǎnle piānjiàn hé àomàn.
  • English: His words were full of prejudice and arrogance.
  • Analysis: Shows `偏见` used with `充满 (chōngmǎn)` meaning “to be full of.” `傲慢 (àomàn)` is “arrogance.”
• Example 7:
  • 地域偏见是导致很多社会矛盾的原因之一。
  • Pinyin: Dìyù piānjiàn shì dǎozhì hěn duō shèhuì máodùn de yuányīn zhī yī.
  • English: Regional prejudice is one of the causes of many social conflicts.
  • Analysis: A great example of a specific type of prejudice, `地域偏见 (dìyù piānjiàn)`, which is a major topic in China.
• Example 8:
  • 偏见往往源于无知。
  • Pinyin: Piānjiàn wǎngwǎng yuányú wúzhī.
  • English: Prejudice often stems from ignorance.
  • Analysis: A wise, proverbial-style sentence. `源于 (yuányú)` means “to originate from,” and `无知 (wúzhī)` means “ignorance.”
• Example 9:
  • 这篇报道带有严重的偏见，完全不客观。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piān bàodào dàiyǒu yánzhòng de piānjiàn, wánquán bù kèguān.
  • English: This news report is severely biased and not at all objective.
  • Analysis: The structure `带有 (dàiyǒu)` means “to carry” or “to have,” often used to describe something containing a certain quality. `客观 (kèguān)` is “objective,” the direct opposite of a biased view.
• Example 10:
  • 作为一个法官，他不能对任何人有偏见。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yí ge fǎguān, tā bù néng duì rènhé rén yǒu piānjiàn.
  • English: As a judge, he cannot be prejudiced against anyone.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the importance of impartiality in a professional context.

• `偏见 (piānjiàn)` vs. “Opinion” `看法 (kànfǎ)`:
  • A very common mistake for learners is to use `偏见` when they just mean “opinion” or “point of view.” `偏见` is always negative and implies unfairness. For a neutral opinion, use `看法 (kànfǎ)` or `意见 (yìjiàn)`.
  • Correct: 我对这件事有不同的看法。(Wǒ duì zhè jiàn shì yǒu bùtóng de kànfǎ.) - I have a different opinion on this matter.
  • Incorrect: 我对这件事有不同的偏见。(This would sound like you're saying, “I have a different prejudice about this,” which is strange and self-critical).
• `偏见 (piānjiàn)` vs. `偏差 (piānchā)`:
  • Both contain `偏`, but they are not interchangeable. `偏见` refers to a social or personal bias. `偏差 (piānchā)` refers to a “deviation,” “error,” or “statistical bias.” It is a neutral, technical term.
  • `偏见` (social): 他对我有偏见。(He is prejudiced against me.)
  • `偏差` (technical): 实验数据出现了一点偏差。(The experiment data showed a small deviation/error.)
• “Prejudice” vs. “Discrimination”:
  • Just like in English, `偏见 (piānjiàn)` is the thought or attitude, while `歧视 (qíshì)` is the action or behavior that results from it. You have a `偏见` in your mind, and you `歧视` with your actions.
  • Example: 因为他对女性有偏见 (thought), 所以他在招聘时歧视女性 (action). - Because he has a prejudice against women, he discriminates against women during hiring.

• 歧视 (qíshì) - Discrimination. The action born from the thought of `偏见`.
• 成见 (chéngjiàn) - A fixed opinion; a stereotype. Very similar to `偏见`, but emphasizes a view that has been formed and is now difficult to change.
• 刻板印象 (kèbǎn yìnxiàng) - Stereotype. A direct translation of the English term, referring to a widely held but oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
• 看法 (kànfǎ) - Point of view, opinion. A neutral term