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verb HSK 5
Traditional 偏離
piān lí
to deviate from · to depart from · to diverge from

Meaning

偏离 means to move away from an original course, path, or standard. It describes physical deviation (like a vehicle going off route) or abstract departure (like straying from principles or goals). The word carries a sense of unintended or undesirable separation from what is correct or expected.

Usage

Commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts to describe deviation from plans, principles, trajectories, or norms. Often appears with 从 (cóng) to indicate what is being deviated from. Frequently used in written Chinese, news reports, technical contexts, and serious discussions.

Examples

  1. 01
    飞机偏离了原定航线，不得不紧急调整方向。
    Fēi jī piān lí le yuán dìng háng xiàn, bù dé bù jǐn jí tiáo zhěng fāng xiàng.
    The plane deviated from its original flight path and had to make emergency adjustments.
  2. 02
    这个项目已经偏离了我们最初的目标。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù yǐ jīng piān lí le wǒ men zuì chū de mù biāo.
    This project has already deviated from our original goals.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 偏离轨道
    piān lí guǐ dào
    to deviate from the track/orbit
  • 偏离方向
    piān lí fāng xiàng
    to deviate from the direction
  • 偏离主题
    piān lí zhǔ tí
    to deviate from the topic
  • 偏离目标
    piān lí mù biāo
    to deviate from the goal

Antonyms

Origin

偏 originally means 'slanted' or 'inclined to one side,' while 离 means 'to leave' or 'separate.' Together they literally mean 'to slant away from' or 'to separate obliquely,' forming a compound that describes deviation from a standard or path.

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