bìmian: 避免 - To Avoid, Avert, Prevent

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.