失衡

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shīhéng: 失衡 - Imbalance, To Lose Balance

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: shīhéng, shīhéng meaning, shīhéng pinyin, 失衡, imbalance in Chinese, lose balance Chinese, out of balance, psychological imbalance, economic imbalance, ecological imbalance, Chinese word for imbalance.
  • Summary: Learn the Chinese word 失衡 (shīhéng), meaning “imbalance” or “to lose balance.” This versatile term goes beyond the physical, describing everything from psychological and emotional imbalance to economic and ecological systems being out of kilter. This page explores its cultural roots in the Chinese pursuit of harmony, its practical use in modern contexts, and how it differs from similar terms, providing a deep understanding for any learner.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): shīhéng
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: To lose balance or a state of imbalance.
  • In a Nutshell: 失衡 (shīhéng) describes a system that was once in a state of equilibrium but has now lost it. Think of a perfectly balanced scale suddenly tipping to one side. This concept is applied broadly in Chinese, from a person physically stumbling to a national economy, a fragile ecosystem, or even one's own mental state. It carries a negative connotation, implying that a desirable state of harmony has been disrupted and needs to be restored.

Character Breakdown

  • 失 (shī): This character's core meaning is “to lose” or “to fail.” Think of it as something slipping away or being missed.
  • 衡 (héng): This character means “balance” or “scale.” It originally depicted a balancing rod or a scale used for weighing things, representing equilibrium and fairness.
  • When combined, 失衡 (shīhéng) literally translates to “lose balance,” a meaning that is clear, direct, and extends from the literal to the metaphorical.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The concept of balance, 平衡 (pínghéng), is a cornerstone of Chinese philosophy. From the Daoist Yin and Yang (阴阳) to Traditional Chinese Medicine's focus on balancing Qi (气), the idea that harmony and health arise from equilibrium is deeply ingrained. Consequently, 失衡 (shīhéng) is seen as a fundamentally negative and undesirable state. It represents a departure from harmony, order, and well-being.
  • Contrast with Western “Disruption”: In modern Western business culture, “disruption” can be a positive term, suggesting innovation that shakes up an old, inefficient system. While 失衡 (shīhéng) can describe the result of such a disruption, it almost never carries a positive connotation on its own. It frames the situation as a problem to be solved. For instance, a new technology causing job losses would be described as creating a social 失衡 (shīhéng), focusing on the negative societal consequence that needs to be addressed, rather than celebrating the disruption itself. The ultimate goal is always to return to a state of 和谐 (héxié), or harmony.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 失衡 (shīhéng) is a common and somewhat formal term used in a wide variety of contexts, often appearing in news, academic discussions, and serious conversations.
  • Psychological/Emotional: Used to describe a state of mental or emotional distress, often caused by jealousy, stress, or injustice. Someone might feel 心理失衡 (xīnlǐ shīhéng) - “psychological imbalance” - after seeing a less-qualified colleague get a promotion.
  • Economic/Social: Frequently used in discussions about macro-level problems. Examples include 贫富失衡 (pínfù shīhéng) (imbalance between rich and poor), 男女比例失衡 (nánnǚ bǐlì shīhéng) (imbalanced male-to-female ratio), and 贸易失衡 (màoyì shīhéng) (trade imbalance).
  • Ecological/Health: Applied to natural and biological systems. 生态失衡 (shēngtài shīhéng) refers to an ecological imbalance, while 营养失衡 (yíngyǎng shīhéng) describes a nutritional imbalance in one's diet.
  • Physical: While it can be used for a person literally losing their balance, a more common colloquial term for that might be 没站稳 (méi zhàn wěn) - “didn't stand firm.” Using 失衡 for a physical stumble sounds more formal or clinical.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 看到同事被提拔，他心里感到有些失衡。
    • Pinyin: Kàndào tóngshì bèi tíbá, tā xīnlǐ gǎndào yǒuxiē shīhéng.
    • English: Seeing his colleague get promoted, he felt a bit of psychological imbalance.
    • Analysis: This is a classic example of 心理失衡 (xīnlǐ shīhéng). It perfectly captures the feeling of unfairness and jealousy.
  • Example 2:
    • 长期吃快餐会导致营养失衡。
    • Pinyin: Chángqī chī kuàicān huì dǎozhì yíngyǎng shīhéng.
    • English: Eating fast food for a long time can lead to a nutritional imbalance.
    • Analysis: Here, 失衡 is used in a health and dietary context. It's a very common and practical usage.
  • Example 3:
    • 这个国家正面临着严重的经济失衡问题。
    • Pinyin: Zhège guójiā zhèng miànlínzhe yánzhòng de jīngjì shīhéng wèntí.
    • English: This country is facing a serious problem of economic imbalance.
    • Analysis: A formal, macroeconomic usage. 失衡 is used here as a noun.
  • Example 4:
    • 引入外来物种可能会破坏当地的生态失衡。
    • Pinyin: Yǐnrù wàilái wùzhǒng kěnéng huì pòhuài dāngdì de shēngtài shīhéng.
    • English: Introducing a foreign species might destroy the local ecological balance.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses a common mistake to highlight the correct usage. It should be “破坏…平衡” (pòhuài…pínghéng - destroy the balance) or “导致…失衡” (dǎozhì…shīhéng - lead to imbalance). The sentence should correctly be: 引入外来物种可能会导致当地生态失衡。 (Yǐnrù wàilái wùzhǒng kěnéng huì dǎozhì dāngdì shēngtài shīhéng - Introducing a foreign species might lead to a local ecological imbalance.) This analysis is embedded here to teach a grammar point.
  • Example 5:
    • 很多现代都市人都存在工作和生活失衡的困扰。
    • Pinyin: Hěnduō xiàndài dūshìrén dōu cúnzài gōngzuò hé shēnghuó shīhéng de kùnrǎo.
    • English: Many modern city dwellers are troubled by a work-life imbalance.
    • Analysis: This relates 失衡 to the very modern concept of “work-life balance,” showing its versatility.
  • Example 6:
    • 由于路面结冰，那位老人突然身体失衡，摔倒了。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú lùmiàn jiébīng, nà wèi lǎorén tūrán shēntǐ shīhéng, shuāidǎo le.
    • English: Because the road was icy, the old man's body suddenly lost balance and he fell.
    • Analysis: This is a literal, physical use of the term. It sounds slightly more formal or descriptive than common spoken language.
  • Example 7:
    • 城乡发展失衡是许多发展中国家需要解决的问题。
    • Pinyin: Chéngxiāng fāzhǎn shīhéng shì xǔduō fāzhǎnzhōng guójiā xūyào jiějué de wèntí.
    • English: The imbalance in urban-rural development is a problem that many developing countries need to solve.
    • Analysis: A sociological use of 失衡 to describe disparity and uneven development.
  • Example 8:
    • 一段健康的感情需要双方的付出，单方面的付出会让关系失衡。
    • Pinyin: Yī duàn jiànkāng de gǎnqíng xūyào shuāngfāng de fùchū, dān fāngmiàn de fùchū huì ràng guānxì shīhéng.
    • English: A healthy relationship requires effort from both sides; one-sided effort will make the relationship unbalanced.
    • Analysis: This shows 失衡 being used to describe interpersonal relationships.
  • Example 9:
    • 过分强调考试分数，会导致教育目标的失衡。
    • Pinyin: Guòfèn qiángdiào kǎoshì fēnshù, huì dǎozhì jiàoyù mùbiāo de shīhéng.
    • English: Overemphasizing test scores will lead to an imbalance in educational goals.
    • Analysis: This applies the concept to an abstract system of goals and priorities.
  • Example 10:
    • 人口结构失衡，尤其是性别比例，将带来长远的社会影响。
    • Pinyin: Rénkǒu jiégòu shīhéng, yóuqí shì xìngbié bǐlì, jiāng dàilái chángyuǎn de shèhuì yǐngxiǎng.
    • English: An imbalance in the population structure, especially the gender ratio, will bring long-term social consequences.
    • Analysis: This highlights a major societal issue in China and other parts of the world, for which 失衡 is the precise term.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 失衡 (shīhéng) vs. 不平衡 (bù pínghéng): This is a key distinction.
    • 失衡 (shīhéng) implies a process or a result of losing a previously existing balance. It has a stronger, more dynamic feel. (e.g., 他的心态失衡了 - His mentality became unbalanced).
    • 不平衡 (bù pínghéng) is a more static, objective description of a state that is simply “not balanced.” It can describe an inherent quality. (e.g., 这两个物体的重量不平衡 - The weight of these two objects is unbalanced).
    • In short: Use 失衡 when talking about a system falling out of balance. Use 不平衡 to simply state that a system is unbalanced. In many cases, they are interchangeable, but 失衡 often sounds more severe or dramatic.
  • Incorrect Usage: Don't use 失衡 to mean “crazy” or “unhinged” in a colloquial way. While 心理失衡 (xīnlǐ shīhéng) describes psychological distress, it's a more clinical or formal term. Calling someone 失衡 directly is not natural. You would describe their mentality (心态) or psychology (心理) as being in a state of 失衡.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 平衡 (pínghéng): The direct antonym. It means balance or equilibrium, the ideal state that is lost in 失衡.
  • 不平衡 (bù pínghéng): Unbalanced. A more static description of a state of imbalance, as explained above.
  • 稳定 (wěndìng): Stable, steady. A system in 平衡 is usually 稳定. A system that is 失衡 is unstable.
  • 和谐 (héxié): Harmony, harmonious. The ultimate cultural and social goal. 失衡 is the primary threat to 和谐.
  • 协调 (xiétiáo): Coordinated, in tune. A verb meaning “to coordinate.” You 协调 different elements to achieve 平衡.
  • 倾斜 (qīngxié): To tilt, to lean. A more physical and literal word. A building can 倾斜, which is a form of physical 失衡.
  • 差距 (chājù): Gap, disparity. A large 差距 between the rich and poor can cause social 失衡.
  • 紊乱 (wěnluàn): Disorder, chaos, confusion. A more severe state that can result from 失衡. If an ecosystem becomes imbalanced (失衡), it can fall into chaos (紊乱).