以偏概全 (yǐ piān gài quán) — (idiom) to take a part for the whole, to make a hasty generalization

Definition

An idiom meaning to judge an entire group based on a small, unrepresentative sample — a hasty, unfair generalization. Use it when criticizing someone's logic or argument for being too sweeping.

idiom
to take a part for the wholeto make a hasty generalization

Examples

  • 以偏概全，。
    Bù néng yīn wèi gè bié rén de xíng wéi jiù yǐ piān gài quán, pī píng zhěng gè qún tǐ.
    You shouldn't criticize an entire group just because of a few individuals' behavior — that's taking a part for the whole.
  • 以偏概全，。
    Tā de jié lùn shì jī yú jǐ gè shù jù yǐ piān gài quán dé chū de, bú gòu yán jǐn.
    His conclusion was reached by overgeneralizing from just a few data points — it's not rigorous enough.
  • 以偏概全，。
    Hěn duō rén duì zhōng guó wén huà yǒu yǐ piān gài quán de wù jiě, qí shí bù tóng dì qū chā yì hěn dà.
    Many people have a 'part-for-the-whole' misunderstanding of Chinese culture; in fact, different regions vary greatly.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
扁
扁biǎn偏piān
Same sound today

偏 combines 亻 (人, a person) with 扁, which gives the sound.

Open 偏 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
既
既jì概gài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.

Open 概 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

Open 全 →

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