弊端 (bì duān) — systemic problem or drawback (in an institution… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

弊端 names a built-in defect of a system or policy, often implying a hidden or recurring flaw. Compared with the near-synonym 弊病, 弊端 is more formal and reads as a sharper, structural critique.

noun

systemic problem or drawback (in an institution, system, or policy)malpracticeabuse (especially corrupt practices)

Examples

弊端。
Zhè ge jì huà de bì duān zài yú chéng běn tài gāo.
The drawback of this plan is that the cost is too high.
弊端。
Rén men pī píng le zhè ge zhì dù de zhǒng zhǒng bì duān.
People criticized various malpractices of this system.
弊端。
Yào gǎi gé bì xū xiān zhǎo chū bì duān suǒ zài.
To reform, you must first find where the problems lie.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

弊 marks harm, and 端 marks an aspect: a harmful aspect.

Characters in this word

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

敝廾弊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

廾廾gǒngboth hands

Sound part声符shēngfú

敝

敝bì弊bì

Same sound today

弊 adds 廾, both hands, to 敝, which gives the sound and means destroy or tatters, making the idea of destroying something with both hands.

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

立耑端

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

耑

耑zhuān端duān

Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

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