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  3. Expressing "contrary to expectations" with 偏偏 ("pian1pian1")

Expressing "contrary to expectations" with 偏偏 ("pian1pian1")

偏偏 piānpiān

Adverb
HSK 5

Structure

A, Subject + 偏偏 + B

Definition

表示事实与主观愿望或常理相反，含有‘故意’、‘就是’的意思，常用于表达一种不随人愿、固执或意外的情形。

Indicates that reality is contrary to one's wishes or common sense, implying 'deliberately' or 'insistently', often used to express situations that go against expectations, stubbornness, or unexpectedness.

Usage

常用于复句的转折分句中，强调主语的行为或状态与预期、常理或他人愿望相反。可以放在动词前，也可以放在主语后。常与‘不’、‘要’等搭配。

Often used in the contrastive clause of compound sentences, emphasizing that the subject's action or state is contrary to expectations, common sense, or other people's wishes. It can be placed before the verb or after the subject. Commonly used with '不' (not), '要' (want), etc.

Examples

  • 1 我想让他来帮忙，他偏偏不来。(I wanted him to come and help, but he just wouldn't come.)
  • 2 大家都认为他会成功，他偏偏失败了。(Everyone thought he would succeed, but he failed against all expectations.)
  • 3 明明知道危险，他偏偏要去冒险。(Although he clearly knew it was dangerous, he insisted on taking the risk.)
  • 4 天气预报说今天晴，偏偏下起了大雨。(The weather forecast said it would be sunny today, but unexpectedly it poured rain.)
  • 5 她平时很温柔，今天偏偏对人大发脾气。(She is usually very gentle, but today she inexplicably lost her temper at someone.)

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