屏蔽

píngbì: 屏蔽 - To Block, To Shield, To Screen

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: pingbi, 屏蔽, what does pingbi mean, block someone in Chinese, block on WeChat, screen content Chinese, Chinese internet censorship, online blocking, filter, shield from harm.
  • Summary: The Chinese word 屏蔽 (píngbì) means to block, shield, or screen out unwanted information. While it can refer to physically shielding something, its most common use today is in the digital world. From blocking a user on social media like WeChat to the widespread “screening” of online content by the Great Firewall, 屏蔽 is a crucial term for understanding modern Chinese communication, technology, and internet culture. It covers everything from personal online privacy to large-scale information control.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): píngbì
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: To block, shield, screen, or filter out something unwanted.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine putting up a screen to block a harsh glare or an unwanted view. That's the core idea of 屏蔽 (píngbì). The term has evolved from this physical meaning to become the go-to word for digital blocking. Whether you're tired of seeing someone's posts, an ad-blocker is filtering pop-ups, or a website is inaccessible, the action is 屏蔽. It's the act of creating an invisible barrier to stop information, signals, or content from reaching you.

Character Breakdown

  • 屏 (píng): This character originally referred to a physical “screen” or partition, like a decorative folding screen in a room. Its primary function is to block, separate, or provide privacy.
  • 蔽 (bì): This character means to cover, conceal, hide, or obstruct from view. It carries a sense of covering something up so it cannot be seen.
  • When combined, 屏蔽 (píngbì) literally means “to screen and cover.” The `屏` provides the tool or concept of a barrier, and `蔽` provides the action of obstructing. Together, they create a powerful and versatile verb for blocking out anything from light and sound to people and information.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In modern China, 屏蔽 (píngbì) has immense cultural and social significance, primarily due to its connection with internet censorship. The “Great Firewall of China” (防火长城, fánghuǒ chángchéng) is a nationwide system that 屏蔽s access to many foreign websites (like Google, Twitter, and YouTube) and filters search results for sensitive topics on domestic platforms. When a post is deleted by censors or a search term yields no results, users might say it has been “和谐” (héxié, harmonized) or, more directly, 被屏蔽了 (bèi píngbì le) - “it has been blocked/screened.”
  • Comparison to Western Concepts: In the West, the concept of “blocking” is almost exclusively a personal action. You “block” an individual on social media. While platforms engage in “content moderation,” which is a form of screening, the idea of systematic, state-level 屏蔽 of vast portions of the global internet is a uniquely significant phenomenon in the Chinese context. Understanding 屏蔽 is not just about learning a vocabulary word; it's about grasping a fundamental aspect of how information is managed and consumed in China today.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 屏蔽 is a highly practical word used across different levels of formality.
  • 1. Personal & Social Media (Informal): This is the most common use for daily life. It refers to blocking or muting someone on social apps. For example, on WeChat, you can 屏蔽 someone's “Moments” (朋友圈, péngyǒuquān), which means you will no longer see their posts, but you remain contacts. This is a softer way to curate your social feed without the finality of a full block.
  • 2. Technology & Software (Neutral): In a technical context, 屏蔽 means to filter or block signals, data, or unwanted content.
    • An ad-blocker 屏蔽s pop-up ads.
    • A firewall 屏蔽s malicious attacks.
    • Noise-cancelling headphones 屏蔽 ambient sound.
  • 3. Censorship & Media (Formal/Sensitive): This usage refers to the institutional filtering of information. News articles, social media posts, or search results containing “sensitive” keywords are often automatically 屏蔽ed by platform algorithms or government directives.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我受不了他的朋友圈了，我决定屏蔽他。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ shòu bu liǎo tā de péngyǒuquān le, wǒ juédìng píngbì tā.
    • English: I can't stand his Moments posts anymore, I've decided to block him.
    • Analysis: A very common, informal usage. Here, `屏蔽` means to hide someone's posts on WeChat Moments without unfriending them.
  • Example 2:
    • 这个广告拦截器可以屏蔽大多数网站上的弹窗。
    • Pinyin: Zhège guǎnggào lánjiéqì kěyǐ píngbì dàduōshù wǎngzhàn shàng de tánchuāng.
    • English: This ad-blocker can screen out pop-ups on most websites.
    • Analysis: A neutral, technical use of the word related to software functionality.
  • Example 3:
    • 由于网络限制，这个网站在中国被屏蔽了。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú wǎngluò xiànzhì, zhège wǎngzhàn zài Zhōngguó bèi píngbì le.
    • English: Due to internet restrictions, this website is blocked in China.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive structure `被 (bèi)` to describe the state-level censorship of a website.
  • Example 4:
    • 我把他的电话号码屏蔽了，这样他就不能再骚扰我了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ tā de diànhuà hàomǎ píngbì le, zhèyàng tā jiù bù néng zài sāorǎo wǒ le.
    • English: I blocked his phone number so he can't harass me anymore.
    • Analysis: Shows the use of `屏蔽` for blocking calls and messages from a specific number.
  • Example 5:
    • 这些特殊的窗帘可以屏蔽百分之九十的阳光。
    • Pinyin: Zhèxiē tèshū de chuānglián kěyǐ píngbì bǎifēnzhī jiǔshí de yángguāng.
    • English: These special curtains can block ninety percent of the sunlight.
    • Analysis: A literal, physical use of the word, connecting back to its original meaning of “screening” something out.
  • Example 6:
    • 家长控制功能可以帮助父母屏蔽不适合儿童的内容。
    • Pinyin: Jiāzhǎng kòngzhì gōngnéng kěyǐ bāngzhù fùmǔ píngbì bù shìhé értóng de nèiróng.
    • English: The parental control function can help parents screen out content that is not suitable for children.
    • Analysis: Another technical example, this time related to content filtering for safety.
  • Example 7:
    • 他的帖子因为包含敏感词而被系统自动屏蔽。
    • Pinyin: Tā de tiězi yīnwèi bāohán mǐngǎncí ér bèi xìtǒng zìdòng píngbì.
    • English: His post was automatically blocked by the system because it contained sensitive words.
    • Analysis: This clearly illustrates the concept of automated censorship on social media platforms.
  • Example 8:
    • 在嘈杂的环境中，降噪耳机能有效屏蔽外界噪音。
    • Pinyin: Zài cáozá de huánjìng zhōng, jiàngzào ěrjī néng yǒuxiào píngbì wàijiè zàoyīn.
    • English: In a noisy environment, noise-cancelling headphones can effectively shield you from external noise.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates `屏蔽` being used for blocking intangible things like sound.
  • Example 9:
    • 公司防火墙屏蔽了所有来自未知来源的连接请求。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī fánghuǒqiáng píngbì le suǒyǒu láizì wèizhī láiyuán de liánjiē qǐngqiú.
    • English: The company firewall blocked all connection requests from unknown sources.
    • Analysis: A formal, business/IT context for blocking network traffic.
  • Example 10:
    • 她试图屏蔽掉那些悲伤的回忆，但总是失败。
    • Pinyin: Tā shìtú píngbì diào nàxiē bēishāng de huíyì, dàn zǒngshì shībài.
    • English: She tried to block out those sad memories, but always failed.
    • Analysis: A figurative, psychological use of the word, meaning to mentally “screen out” thoughts or emotions.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 屏蔽 (píngbì) vs. 拉黑 (lā hēi): This is the most critical distinction for social media users.
    • 屏蔽 (píngbì): A “soft block.” On WeChat, it usually means you hide someone's posts from your feed (or hide your posts from them). You are still technically “friends” and can message each other. It's a low-conflict way to curate your social space.
    • 拉黑 (lā hēi): A “hard block.” It literally means “to pull into the blacklist.” This severs the connection. You can no longer send messages to each other, and you are removed from each other's contact lists. It's a much more definitive and confrontational action.
  • Don't use for physical obstructions: A common mistake is using 屏蔽 for a blocked road or a clogged pipe. 屏蔽 is used for information, light, signals, sound, or access—not for solid physical barriers in a path. For a blocked road, you should use 堵塞 (dǔsè).
    • Incorrect: 道路被一棵树屏蔽了。 (Dàolù bèi yī kē shù píngbì le.)
    • Correct: 道路被一棵树堵塞了。 (Dàolù bèi yī kē shù dǔsè le.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 拉黑 (lā hēi) - To blacklist or “hard block” someone on social media. A much stronger and more final action than `屏蔽`.
  • 防火长城 (fánghuǒ chángchéng) - The Great Firewall of China. The official name is the Golden Shield Project (金盾工程). It's the system that `屏蔽`s foreign websites.
  • 过滤 (guòlǜ) - To filter. This is a more neutral, technical term. While `屏蔽` implies a complete block, `过滤` can mean to sift through and remove unwanted parts, like filtering spam emails from an inbox.
  • 审查 (shěnchá) - To censor, to review, or to inspect. This is the process of examination that often leads to content being `屏蔽`ed.
  • 拦截 (lánjié) - To intercept. Refers to stopping something in transit, such as intercepting a message or a missile. It focuses on stopping something mid-path.
  • 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. A well-known internet slang term and euphemism for censorship. When a post is deleted or blocked for sensitive content, users say it has been “harmonized” (被和谐了).
  • 敏感词 (mǐngǎncí) - Sensitive words. These are the keywords that are often automatically `屏蔽`ed by online platforms.