pínglùn: 评论 - Comment, Review, Critique

• Keywords: pínglùn, 评论, Chinese comment, Chinese review, what does pinglun mean, online comments in Chinese, write a review in Chinese, commentary, critique, feedback in Chinese.
• Summary: The Chinese word 评论 (pínglùn) means comment, review, or critique. It is an essential term for modern China, used as both a noun (a comment) and a verb (to comment). From leaving a quick reply on social media to writing a detailed movie review or offering a formal critique on a news event, 评论 (pínglùn) covers the full spectrum of expressing an opinion or judgment about something that already exists. Understanding this word is key to navigating China's vibrant digital world, from e-commerce product reviews to online discussions.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): pínglùn
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To comment on or review something; a comment or review.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 评论 (pínglùn) as the universal word for feedback. It’s the button you click online to “Comment” and it's also the word for the review you leave on a product you bought. The word itself is neutral—a 评论 can be positive, negative, or just an observation. It’s a reaction to a piece of content, a product, an event, or a performance.

• 评 (píng): To judge, assess, or comment. This character is composed of 言 (yán), the radical for “speech,” and 平 (píng), which means “flat,” “level,” or “fair.” So, 评 (píng) visually represents making a “fair and level-headed judgment” through speech.
• 论 (lùn): To discuss, debate, or state an opinion. This character also contains the “speech” radical 言 (yán). The right side, 仑 (lún), provides the sound and hints at “order” or “logic.” Thus, 论 (lùn) suggests a “logical or ordered discussion.”

Combining them, 评论 (pínglùn) literally means “to judge and discuss” or “a fair and ordered discussion,” which perfectly captures the modern meaning of a well-considered comment or review.

In modern China, 评论 (pínglùn) is the lifeblood of the digital economy and social interaction. The concept is far more integrated into daily decision-making than its Western equivalent, “reviews” or “comments,” might suggest. For instance, when choosing a restaurant on the app Meituan (美团) or buying a product on Taobao (淘宝), Chinese consumers rely almost religiously on the 评论区 (pínglùn qū), the comment section. A high volume of positive comments (好评 hǎopíng) can make a product an instant bestseller, while a flurry of negative ones (差评 chàpíng) can destroy a business's reputation overnight. This cultural emphasis has led to the phenomenon of 刷好评 (shuā hǎopíng), “brushing good reviews,” and the rise of the 水军 (shuǐjūn), or “water army”—paid ghostwriters who flood comment sections with fake positive reviews to manipulate public opinion. This is a significant cultural contrast to the West, where while fake reviews exist, the terminology and scale of this “industry” are unique to the Chinese internet ecosystem. The act of leaving a 评论 is seen as a direct form of participation and influence.

评论 (pínglùn) is extremely versatile and used in many contexts, from very casual to highly formal. As a Noun (a comment/review):

• Online: This is the most common usage. It refers to a comment on a social media post, a product review on an e-commerce site, or a review of a movie on a site like Douban (豆瓣).
  • `这篇帖子的评论很有意思。` (The comments on this post are very interesting.)
• Formal: It can refer to a formal commentary, critique, or review in media or academia.
  • `他写了一篇关于这部电影的评论。` (He wrote a review of this movie.)

As a Verb (to comment/to review):

• Online: Used to describe the action of leaving a comment.
  • `请在下面评论。` (Please comment below.)
• Formal/In Conversation: Used when asking for someone's assessment or opinion on a matter.
  • `我想请您评论一下我们的新方案。` (I'd like to ask you to comment on our new plan.)

The tone of 评论 is neutral. To specify, you must add adjectives like 好评 (hǎopíng) for a “good review” or 差评 (chàpíng) for a “bad review.”

• Example 1:
• 这部电影收到了很多正面的评论。
• Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng shōudàole hěn duō zhèngmiàn de pínglùn.
• English: This movie received many positive reviews.
• Analysis: Here, 评论 is a noun meaning “reviews.” The adjective 正面 (zhèngmiàn), meaning “positive,” clarifies the nature of the reviews.
• Example 2:
• 你可以评论一下我的新发型吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ pínglùn yíxià wǒ de xīn fàxíng ma?
• English: Can you comment on my new haircut?
• Analysis: This is an informal, verbal use of 评论 as a verb. The particle 一下 (yíxià) softens the request, making it sound like “comment a little” or “give a quick comment.”
• Example 3:
• 我买东西以前，总是先看评论。
• Pinyin: Wǒ mǎi dōngxi yǐqián, zǒngshì xiān kàn pínglùn.
• English: Before I buy something, I always read the reviews first.
• Analysis: A perfect example of modern consumer behavior in China. 评论 here refers specifically to customer/product reviews online.
• Example 4:
• 老师让每个学生都评论一本书。
• Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng měi ge xuéshēng dōu pínglùn yī běn shū.
• English: The teacher had every student review a book.
• Analysis: Demonstrates 评论 used as a verb in an academic or formal context, meaning “to review” or “to critique.”
• Example 5:
• 他的评论一针见血，指出了问题的核心。
• Pinyin: Tā de pínglùn yī zhēn jiàn xiě, zhǐchūle wèntí de héxīn.
• English: His commentary was sharp and to the point, identifying the core of the issue.
• Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom 一针见血 (yī zhēn jiàn xiě), literally “one needle sees blood,” to describe a 评论 (noun) as being incisive and insightful.
• Example 6:
• 如果你喜欢这个视频，请点赞和评论。
• Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuān zhège shìpín, qǐng diǎnzàn hé pínglùn.
• English: If you like this video, please “like” and comment.
• Analysis: This is standard social media language. 评论 is used as a verb alongside 点赞 (diǎnzàn), “to click like.”
• Example 7:
• 我给那个服务员留了个差评，因为他态度很差。
• Pinyin: Wǒ gěi nàge fúwùyuán liú le ge chàpíng, yīnwèi tā tàidù hěn chà.
• English: I left that waiter a bad review because his attitude was terrible.
• Analysis: This shows the use of the specific term 差评 (chàpíng), “bad review,” which is derived from 评论. 留 (liú) means “to leave.”
• Example 8:
• 新闻评论员正在分析当前的国际形势。
• Pinyin: Xīnwén pínglùn yuán zhèngzài fēnxī dāngqián de guójì xíngshì.
• English: The news commentator is analyzing the current international situation.
• Analysis: 评论 is part of a compound noun here: 评论员 (pínglùn yuán), which means “commentator” or “reviewer.”
• Example 9:
• 欢迎大家在评论区自由发言。
• Pinyin: Huānyíng dàjiā zài pínglùn qū zìyóu fāyán.
• English: Everyone is welcome to speak freely in the comment section.
• Analysis: Another essential modern term, 评论区 (pínglùn qū), literally “comment area,” means “comment section.”
• Example 10:
• 对于这件事，我暂时不作任何评论。
• Pinyin: Duìyú zhè jiàn shì, wǒ zànshí bú zuò rènhé pínglùn.
• English: Regarding this matter, I will make no comment for the time being.
• Analysis: A formal way to decline to comment, often used by officials or in public relations. 作评论 (zuò pínglùn) is a common verb-object phrase meaning “to make a comment.”

• 评论 (pínglùn) vs. 意见 (yìjiàn): This is a critical distinction for learners.
  • 评论 is a reaction to something that already exists or has happened (a movie, an article, a past event). It's about judgment and analysis.
  • 意见 (yìjiàn) means “opinion” or “suggestion” and is usually about a future plan or a current situation that can be changed.
  • Incorrect: `对于我们的新计划，你有什么评论？` (What comments do you have on our new plan?) This sounds like you're asking for a formal critique of a finished document.
  • Correct: `对于我们的新计划，你有什么意见？` (What suggestions do you have for our new plan?) This is the natural way to ask for input.
• 评论 (pínglùn) vs. 批评 (pīpíng):
  • 评论 is neutral. It can be positive (好评), negative (差评), or just an observation.
  • 批评 (pīpíng) is inherently negative. It means “to criticize” or “criticism” and focuses on faults.
  • Example: `我的老板评论了我的报告。` (My boss commented on my report.) - This is neutral. Maybe he liked it, maybe he didn't.
  • Example: `我的老板批评了我的报告。` (My boss criticized my report.) - This is clearly negative. He found mistakes.
• False Friend: “Critique”
  • While 评论 can be translated as “critique,” the English word “critique” often implies a formal, in-depth, and structured analysis. 评论 has a much broader range. A one-word comment online like “哈哈 (hāhā)” or “顶 (dǐng - 'upvote'/'support')” is also a 评论. Don't assume 评论 always means a deep analysis.

• 好评 (hǎopíng) - A positive review/comment; “good praise.” A specific, positive type of 评论.
• 差评 (chàpíng) - A negative review/comment; “bad review.” The direct antonym of 好评.
• 意见 (yìjiàn) - Opinion, view, or suggestion. Used for seeking input on plans, not for reviewing finished work.
• 批评 (pīpíng) - To criticize; criticism. A type of 评论 that is explicitly negative and points out faults.
• 观点 (guāndiǎn) - Point of view, standpoint. This is the content or substance of a 评论.
• 反馈 (fǎnkuì) - Feedback. A slightly more formal or technical term, often used in business or user testing contexts.
• 留言 (liúyán) - To leave a message. Often used interchangeably with 评论 in online contexts, but can also refer to voicemails or notes left for someone.
• 帖子 (tiězi) - A post (on a forum or social media). This is the object that often receives a 评论.
• 水军 (shuǐjūn) - “Water army.” A culturally significant term for paid online commenters who post fake 评论.
• 回复 (huífù) - To reply. This is an action within a 评论区; you reply to a specific 评论.