HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
to slant
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
oblique
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
prejudiced
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
to deviate from average
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
to stray from the intended line
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
stubbornly
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
contrary to expectations
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
left-hand side of a split Chinese character, often the key or radical
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
偏
piān
slanting, inclined; prejudiced
HSK 7, a, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4226, Very Hard
piān(pian1) T1
1to lean
2to slant
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March 24, 2026
偏piān(pian1)
The character 偏 (piān) primarily means to lean or slant. It can describe something that is not aligned or deviates from the norm, whether physically or metaphorically, such as holding a biased opinion. It is often used in contexts involving partiality or inclination towards one side.
Strokes11Radical亻Frequency#4226DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
偏 is often associated with traditional Chinese views on balance and harmony, wherein leaning too much to one side is seen as undesirable. In Chinese philosophy, maintaining balance is essential, making this character particularly significant.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person leaning to one side while holding a heavy load; this visual helps you remember '偏' (piān) means 'to lean'. The left part, '偏', resembles a person tilting, while the right part can be thought of as a heavy burden that causes the slant.
Meanings of 偏
piān(pian1)
1to lean
2to slant
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 偏
偏Simplified
11Strokes
亻Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4226Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 偏
Podcast: 偏
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AI Study Notes for 偏
Quick Contrast
偏 (piān) vs 侧 (cè) — use 偏 for bias or inclination, while 侧 refers to a physical side or lateral position.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes with 偏 include using it in contexts where '偏见' (prejudice) is implied but not specifying this bias. It is informal and can have a negative connotation, so be cautious in formal speech. Typical collocations include '偏见' (prejudice) and '偏好' (preference).
HSK Study Tips
Though not currently on the HSK list, understanding 偏 can enhance vocabulary related to opinions and preferences. Students at this level should focus on recognizing its use in context, particularly in phrases that indicate bias or inclination.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 偏 with 偏见 (prejudice) and use it incorrectly as a synonym for general bias without context. For instance, saying '我有偏' instead of '我有偏见' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 偏
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Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 扁 represents the sound.
1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
2The sound half扁 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayperson
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 偏? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 偏?
Decomposition of 偏
IDS Structure⿰亻扁
偏Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
扁bian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 偏?
How to say to lean in Chinese
“to lean” in Chinese is偏piān
The character 偏 (piān) primarily means to lean or slant. It can describe something that is not aligned or deviates from the norm, whether physically or metaphorically, such as holding a biased opinion. It is often used in contexts involving partiality or inclination towards one side.
When to use 偏
Common mistakes with 偏 include using it in contexts where '偏见' (prejudice) is implied but not specifying this bias. It is informal and can have a negative connotation, so be cautious in formal speech. Typical collocations include '偏见' (prejudice) and '偏好' (preference).
偏 or something close to it
偏 (piān) vs 侧 (cè) — use 偏 for bias or inclination, while 侧 refers to a physical side or lateral position.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 偏 with 偏见 (prejudice) and use it incorrectly as a synonym for general bias without context. For instance, saying '我有偏' instead of '我有偏见' is incorrect.
Write 偏
偏
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Practice writing 偏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 偏
偏 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
