(piān) — (verb) to lean, to slant; to deviate from the intended line; (adjective) oblique; biased, prejudiced; (adverb) stubbornly, insistently; contrary to expectations

Definition

Covers three distinct uses: a physical lean or slant (like 斜), a biased or prejudiced stance, and an adverb meaning 'stubbornly / contrary to expectations' — that last sense overlaps with 偏偏 (more emphatic) and 一味 (blindly persistent, negative).

verb
to leanto slantto deviate from the intended line
adjective
obliquebiasedprejudiced
adverb
stubbornlyinsistentlycontrary to expectations

Examples

  • Zhè miàn qiáng yǒu diǎn piān, xū yào xiū yí xià.
    This wall leans a bit and needs repair.
  • Tā de guān diǎn tài piān le, bú gòu kè guān.
    His views are too biased, not objective enough.
  • Tā piān yào qù, shuí yě lán bú zhù.
    He insists on going, no one can stop him.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Written in full asrén
Sound part声符shēngfú
biǎnpiān
Same sound today

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

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.