HSK 7-9
偏偏
piānpiān
Just; precisely (contrary to expectations)
Structure
Subject + 偏偏 + Verb/Adjective
How it works
The adverb '偏偏' is used to emphasize that something happens contrary to one's wishes, expectations, or the natural order of things. It often conveys a sense of stubbornness, unfortunate coincidence, or a deliberate action taken in opposition to advice.
Examples
我今天没带雨伞，偏偏就下起了大雨。
Wǒ jīntiān méi dài yǔsǎn, piānpiān jiù xià qǐle dàyǔ.
I didn't bring an umbrella today, and wouldn't you know it, it started pouring.
大家都劝他休息，他偏偏不听。
Dàjiā dōu quàn tā xiūxi, tā piānpiān bù tīng.
Everyone advised him to rest, but he obstinately refused to listen.
我正急着出门，偏偏钥匙找不到了。
Wǒ zhèng jízhe chūmén, piānpiān yàoshi zhǎo bù dào le.
I was just in a hurry to go out, and of all things, I couldn't find my keys.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse '偏偏' with '只是'. While both can mean 'only,' '偏偏' must imply a contradiction to expectations or a feeling of 'contrary to what is desired.'
Tip
Think of '偏偏' as expressing a sense of 'of all people' or 'of all times.' It is frequently used with '却' (què) to further emphasize contrast.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 偏偏 in real Chinese
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