Contrary to Expectations – 偏 piān

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the word 偏 piān is often used to express a meaning similar to “contrary to expectations”, or “just (to do something) even though it’s not reasonable or expected.” It usually shows that someone does something deliberately, stubbornly, or despite objections or difficulties.

Structure

S + 偏 piān + V

It adds emphasis, often implying that someone is going against advice, common sense, or expectations. And it’s common in spoken Chinese and informal writing.

他tā病bìng得de很hěn重zhòng， 偏piān不bú去qù看kàn醫生yīshēng他tā病bìng得de很hěn重zhòng， 偏piān不bú去qù看kàn医生yīshēng
He’s seriously ill, yet he refuses to see a doctor.

天tiān這麼zhème冷lěng， 她tā偏piān要yào穿chuān裙子qúnzi天tiān这么zhème冷lěng， 她tā偏piān要yào穿chuān裙子qúnzi
It’s so cold, but she insists on wearing a skirt.

這麼zhème難nán的de工作gōngzuò， 他tā偏piān說shuō沒問題méiwèntí这么zhème难nán的de工作gōngzuò， 他tā偏piān说shuō没问题méiwèntí
It’s such a difficult job, yet he says it’s no problem.

明明míngmíng知道zhīdào辣là會huì肚子dùzi痛tòng， 他tā偏piān要yào吃chī麻辣málà火鍋huǒguō明明míngmíng知道zhīdào辣là会huì肚子dùzi痛tòng， 他tā偏piān要yào吃chī麻辣málà火锅huǒguō
He knows spicy food gives him a stomachache, but he still insists on eating spicy hot pot.

全家quánjiā人rén想xiǎng去qù海邊hǎibiān， 他tā偏piān說shuō要yào去qù爬山páshān全家quánjiā人rén想xiǎng去qù海边hǎibiān， 他tā偏piān说shuō要yào去qù爬山páshān
The whole family wanted to go to the beach, but he insisted on hiking instead.

我wǒ準備zhǔnbèi了le很hěn多duō玩具wánjù給gěi我wǒ的de狗gǒu， 但dàn她tā偏piān要yào咬yǎo我wǒ剛gāng買mǎi的de包bāo我wǒ准备zhǔnbèi了le很hěn多duō玩具wánjù给gěi我wǒ的de狗gǒu， 但dàn她tā偏piān要yào咬yǎo我wǒ刚gāng买mǎi的de包bāo
I got my dog so many toys, but she just insists on chewing my brand new bag.

S + 偏偏 piānpiān + V

偏偏 piānpiān is a stronger and more colloquial form of 偏 piān and also means “just happened to,” “of all things,” or “contrary to what would be expected.”

我wǒ準備zhǔnbèi好hǎo了le雨傘yǔsǎn， 偏偏piānpiān今天jīntiān沒méi下雨xiàyǔ我wǒ准备zhǔnbèi好hǎo了le雨伞yǔsǎn， 偏偏piānpiān今天jīntiān没méi下雨xiàyǔ
I brought an umbrella, but it just happened not to rain today.

大家dàjiā都dōu反對fǎnduì， 偏偏piānpiān他tā要yào去qù大家dàjiā都dōu反对fǎnduì， 偏偏piānpiān他tā要yào去qù
Everyone’s against it, yet he insists on going

每天měitiān早上zǎoshàng鬧鐘nàozhōng響xiǎng不bù醒xǐng， 偏偏piānpiān週末zhōumò沒méi設shè鬧鐘nàozhōng就jiù自動zìdòng醒來xǐnglái每天měitiān早上zǎoshang闹钟nàozhōng响xiǎng不bù醒xǐng， 偏偏piānpiān周末zhōumò没méi设shè闹钟nàozhōng就jiù自动zìdòng醒来xǐnglái
I can’t wake up with an alarm on weekdays, but on weekends I wake up early with no alarm.

好不容易hǎobùróngyì排pái到dào假期jiàqí去qù旅行lǚxíng， 偏偏piānpiān那nà週zhōu天氣tiānqì最zuì差chā好不容易hǎobùróngyì排pái到dào假期jiàqī去qù旅行lǚxíng， 偏偏piānpiān那nà周zhōu天气tiānqì最zuì差chà
I finally got time off for a trip, and that week had the worst weather.

平常píngcháng沒méi人rén找zhǎo我wǒ， 一yì忙máng起來qǐlái偏偏piānpiān訊息xùnxí電話diànhuà都dōu來lái了le平常píngcháng没méi人rén找zhǎo我wǒ， 一yì忙máng起来qǐlái偏偏piānpiān讯息xùnxī电话diànhuà都dōu来lái了le
Normally no one contacts me, but the moment I get busy, all the messages and calls flood in.

我wǒ上班shàngbān快kuài遲到chídào了le， 但dàn我wǒ的de貓māo偏偏piānpiān那麼nàme可愛kěài地de躺tǎng在zài我wǒ身上shēnshàng撒嬌sǎjiāo我wǒ上班shàngbān快kuài迟到chídào了le， 但dàn我wǒ的de猫māo偏偏piānpiān那么nàme可爱kěài地de躺tǎng在zài我wǒ身上shēnshang撒娇sājiāo
I was about to be late for work, but my cat just had to adorably lie on me and act all cuddly.

A Song Named 偏偏 piānpiān