Keywords: pingbi, 屏蔽, what does pingbi mean, block someone in Chinese, block on WeChat, screen content Chinese, Chinese internet censorship, online blocking, filter, shield from harm.
Summary: The Chinese word 屏蔽 (píngbì) means to block, shield, or screen out unwanted information. While it can refer to physically shielding something, its most common use today is in the digital world. From blocking a user on social media like WeChat to the widespread “screening” of online content by the Great Firewall, 屏蔽 is a crucial term for understanding modern Chinese communication, technology, and internet culture. It covers everything from personal online privacy to large-scale information control.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): píngbì
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: To block, shield, screen, or filter out something unwanted.
In a Nutshell: Imagine putting up a screen to block a harsh glare or an unwanted view. That's the core idea of 屏蔽 (píngbì). The term has evolved from this physical meaning to become the go-to word for digital blocking. Whether you're tired of seeing someone's posts, an ad-blocker is filtering pop-ups, or a website is inaccessible, the action is 屏蔽. It's the act of creating an invisible barrier to stop information, signals, or content from reaching you.
Character Breakdown
屏 (píng): This character originally referred to a physical “screen” or partition, like a decorative folding screen in a room. Its primary function is to block, separate, or provide privacy.
蔽 (bì): This character means to cover, conceal, hide, or obstruct from view. It carries a sense of covering something up so it cannot be seen.
When combined, 屏蔽 (píngbì) literally means “to screen and cover.” The `屏` provides the tool or concept of a barrier, and `蔽` provides the action of obstructing. Together, they create a powerful and versatile verb for blocking out anything from light and sound to people and information.
Cultural Context and Significance
In modern China, 屏蔽 (píngbì) has immense cultural and social significance, primarily due to its connection with internet censorship. The “Great Firewall of China” (防火长城, fánghuǒ chángchéng) is a nationwide system that 屏蔽s access to many foreign websites (like Google, Twitter, and YouTube) and filters search results for sensitive topics on domestic platforms. When a post is deleted by censors or a search term yields no results, users might say it has been “和谐” (héxié, harmonized) or, more directly, 被屏蔽了 (bèi píngbì le) - “it has been blocked/screened.”
Comparison to Western Concepts: In the West, the concept of “blocking” is almost exclusively a personal action. You “block” an individual on social media. While platforms engage in “content moderation,” which is a form of screening, the idea of systematic, state-level 屏蔽 of vast portions of the global internet is a uniquely significant phenomenon in the Chinese context. Understanding 屏蔽 is not just about learning a vocabulary word; it's about grasping a fundamental aspect of how information is managed and consumed in China today.
Practical Usage in Modern China
屏蔽 is a highly practical word used across different levels of formality.
1. Personal & Social Media (Informal): This is the most common use for daily life. It refers to blocking or muting someone on social apps. For example, on WeChat, you can 屏蔽 someone's “Moments” (朋友圈, péngyǒuquān), which means you will no longer see their posts, but you remain contacts. This is a softer way to curate your social feed without the finality of a full block.
2. Technology & Software (Neutral): In a technical context, 屏蔽 means to filter or block signals, data, or unwanted content.
An ad-blocker 屏蔽s pop-up ads.
A firewall 屏蔽s malicious attacks.
Noise-cancelling headphones 屏蔽 ambient sound.
3. Censorship & Media (Formal/Sensitive): This usage refers to the institutional filtering of information. News articles, social media posts, or search results containing “sensitive” keywords are often automatically 屏蔽ed by platform algorithms or government directives.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我受不了他的朋友圈了，我决定屏蔽他。
Pinyin: Wǒ shòu bu liǎo tā de péngyǒuquān le, wǒ juédìng píngbì tā.
English: I can't stand his Moments posts anymore, I've decided to block him.
Analysis: A very common, informal usage. Here, `屏蔽` means to hide someone's posts on WeChat Moments without unfriending them.
English: In a noisy environment, noise-cancelling headphones can effectively shield you from external noise.
Analysis: Demonstrates `屏蔽` being used for blocking intangible things like sound.
Example 9:
公司防火墙屏蔽了所有来自未知来源的连接请求。
Pinyin: Gōngsī fánghuǒqiáng píngbì le suǒyǒu láizì wèizhī láiyuán de liánjiē qǐngqiú.
English: The company firewall blocked all connection requests from unknown sources.
Analysis: A formal, business/IT context for blocking network traffic.
Example 10:
她试图屏蔽掉那些悲伤的回忆，但总是失败。
Pinyin: Tā shìtú píngbì diào nàxiē bēishāng de huíyì, dàn zǒngshì shībài.
English: She tried to block out those sad memories, but always failed.
Analysis: A figurative, psychological use of the word, meaning to mentally “screen out” thoughts or emotions.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
屏蔽 (píngbì) vs. 拉黑 (lā hēi): This is the most critical distinction for social media users.
屏蔽 (píngbì): A “soft block.” On WeChat, it usually means you hide someone's posts from your feed (or hide your posts from them). You are still technically “friends” and can message each other. It's a low-conflict way to curate your social space.
拉黑 (lā hēi): A “hard block.” It literally means “to pull into the blacklist.” This severs the connection. You can no longer send messages to each other, and you are removed from each other's contact lists. It's a much more definitive and confrontational action.
Don't use for physical obstructions: A common mistake is using 屏蔽 for a blocked road or a clogged pipe. 屏蔽 is used for information, light, signals, sound, or access—not for solid physical barriers in a path. For a blocked road, you should use 堵塞 (dǔsè).
拉黑 (lā hēi) - To blacklist or “hard block” someone on social media. A much stronger and more final action than `屏蔽`.
防火长城 (fánghuǒ chángchéng) - The Great Firewall of China. The official name is the Golden Shield Project (金盾工程). It's the system that `屏蔽`s foreign websites.
过滤 (guòlǜ) - To filter. This is a more neutral, technical term. While `屏蔽` implies a complete block, `过滤` can mean to sift through and remove unwanted parts, like filtering spam emails from an inbox.
审查 (shěnchá) - To censor, to review, or to inspect. This is the process of examination that often leads to content being `屏蔽`ed.
拦截 (lánjié) - To intercept. Refers to stopping something in transit, such as intercepting a message or a missile. It focuses on stopping something mid-path.
和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. A well-known internet slang term and euphemism for censorship. When a post is deleted or blocked for sensitive content, users say it has been “harmonized” (被和谐了).
敏感词 (mǐngǎncí) - Sensitive words. These are the keywords that are often automatically `屏蔽`ed by online platforms.