píngwěi: 评委 - Judge, Juror, Panelist [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== píngwěi: 评委 - Judge, Juror, Panelist ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 评委, pingwei, Chinese for judge, judge in Chinese, competition judge, panel of judges, panelist in Chinese, juror in Chinese, 评委是什么意思, how to say judge in Mandarin, HSK 5 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** The Chinese word **评委 (píngwěi)** translates to "judge," "panelist," or "juror," but it's most commonly used to refer to a judge on a panel for a competition, contest, or performance. Whether it's a TV talent show, an academic defense, or an art exhibition, the **评委** is the expert appointed to evaluate and decide the outcome. This term is essential for understanding contexts involving evaluation and formal assessment in modern China.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>评委</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** píngwěi
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** A person or member of a committee appointed to judge a competition or assess a performance.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of any situation where someone's skill or creation is being evaluated—a singing contest, a business plan pitch, a film festival, or even a thesis defense. The people sitting at the table making the decisions are the `评委`. The word itself combines the idea of "critiquing" (`评`) with "committee" (`委`), perfectly describing an individual who is part of an official judging panel.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **评 (píng):** To judge, critique, comment, or review. The left radical, `言 (yán)`, means "speech" or "words." The right part, `平 (píng)`, means "level" or "fair." Together, they create the image of making a fair and level-headed judgment using words.
  * **委 (wěi):** To entrust, appoint, or a committee. This character implies a formal appointment or a group with a specific responsibility. It's found in words like `委员会 (wěiyuánhuì)`, which means "committee."
  * The characters combine to mean "an appointed person who judges with words," or more simply, a "judging committee member."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, the role of a `评委` is often seen with a high degree of respect and authority. They are typically considered experts (`专家, zhuānjiā`) in their field, and their evaluations carry significant weight. This reflects a broader cultural value placed on expertise and respecting the opinions of those with deep knowledge and experience.
This contrasts with the Western ideal of a "jury of one's peers" in a legal context. While China has a "People's Assessor" system that resembles a jury, the word `评委` is almost exclusively used for competitions, not legal trials. For a judge in a court of law, the correct term is `法官 (fǎguān)`.
The prominence of televised competitions in China, from singing contests like "中国好声音" (The Voice of China) to startup reality shows, has made the `评委` a major public figure. Their sharp commentary is not just for the contestants but also serves as a form of public education and entertainment, reinforcing their role as arbiters of taste and skill.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
The term `评委` is used in formal and semi-formal contexts where an official evaluation is taking place. It is a neutral term.
  * **Competitions and Entertainment:** This is the most common usage. It applies to any contest, from a national talent show to a local spelling bee.
    * e.g., `歌唱比赛的评委` (gēchàng bǐsài de píngwěi) - "judges of the singing competition"
    * e.g., `电影节评委` (diànyǐng jié píngwěi) - "film festival jury/panel"
  * **Academic and Professional Settings:** `评委` is also used for panels that assess academic or professional work.
    * e.g., `博士论文答辩的评委` (bóshì lùnwén dábiàn de píngwěi) - "judges/committee for a PhD dissertation defense"
    * e.g., `这个项目的评委都是行业专家。` (Zhège xiàngmù de píngwěi dōu shì hángyè zhuānjiā.) - "The judges for this project are all industry experts."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 几位**评委**正在认真地讨论比赛结果。
    * Pinyin: Jǐ wèi **píngwěi** zhèngzài rènzhēn de tǎolùn bǐsài jiéguǒ.
    * English: Several judges are seriously discussing the results of the competition.
    * Analysis: `位 (wèi)` is a polite measure word for people, fitting for the respected role of a `评委`.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他很荣幸能被邀请担任这次舞蹈大赛的**评委**。
    * Pinyin: Tā hěn róngxìng néng bèi yāoqǐng dānrèn zhè cì wǔdǎo dàsài de **píngwěi**.
    * English: He was very honored to be invited to serve as a judge for this dance competition.
    * Analysis: `担任 (dānrèn)` means "to serve as" or "to hold the post of," a formal verb often used with positions like `评委`.
  * **Example 3:**
    * **评委**给我的表演打了最高分！
    * Pinyin: **Píngwěi** gěi wǒ de biǎoyǎn dǎle zuìgāo fēn!
    * English: The judge(s) gave my performance the highest score!
    * Analysis: `打分 (dǎfēn)` literally means "to hit a score," and it's the standard verb for what judges do.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 你同意**评委**们的决定吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ tóngyì **píngwěi**men de juédìng ma?
    * English: Do you agree with the judges' decision?
    * Analysis: The suffix `们 (men)` makes the noun plural, clarifying that it refers to the entire panel.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 那位**评委**以其严厉的评论而闻名。
    * Pinyin: Nà wèi **píngwěi** yǐ qí yánlì de pínglùn ér wénmíng.
    * English: That judge is famous for his harsh comments.
    * Analysis: This sentence shows how a `评委` is known not just for their scores, but for their critique (`评论`).
  * **Example 6:**
    * 成为一名合格的**评委**需要丰富的专业知识。
    * Pinyin: Chéngwéi yī míng hégé de **píngwěi** xūyào fēngfù de zhuānyè zhīshì.
    * English: Becoming a qualified judge requires a wealth of professional knowledge.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural expectation that a `评委` is an expert.
  * **Example 7:**
    * **评委**席上坐着三位著名的艺术家。
    * Pinyin: **Píngwěi** xí shàng zuòzhe sān wèi zhùmíng de yìshùjiā.
    * English: Three famous artists were sitting at the judges' table.
    * Analysis: `评委席 (píngwěi xí)` means "judges' seat" or "judges' table," a specific term for where the panel sits.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 选手的命运掌握在**评委**手中。
    * Pinyin: Xuǎnshǒu de mìngyùn zhǎngwò zài **píngwěi** shǒu zhōng.
    * English: The fate of the contestants lies in the hands of the judges.
    * Analysis: A common, slightly dramatic phrase used in media to describe the power of the `评委`.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 在答辩环节，**评委**会向你提问。
    * Pinyin: Zài dábiàn huánjié, **píngwěi** huì xiàng nǐ tíwèn.
    * English: During the defense session, the committee/judges will ask you questions.
    * Analysis: This shows the term's usage in a formal academic setting like a thesis defense (`答辩`).
  * **Example 10:**
    * **评委**团由来自不同国家的专家组成。
    * Pinyin: **Píngwěi** tuán yóu láizì bùtóng guójiā de zhuānjiā zǔchéng.
    * English: The panel of judges is composed of experts from different countries.
    * Analysis: `评委团 (píngwěi tuán)` means "judge panel" or "jury," emphasizing the group aspect.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`评委 (píngwěi)` vs. `裁判 (cáipàn)`:** This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    * **`评委 (píngwěi)`:** Judges based on **subjective** criteria like artistic quality, taste, skill, and creativity. (e.g., a diving competition, a singing contest, a design award).
    * **`裁判 (cáipàn)`:** A referee or umpire who enforces **objective** rules. Their job is to see if rules are broken, not to judge quality. (e.g., a soccer match, a basketball game, a race).
    * **Incorrect:** `足球比赛的评委` (The judges of the soccer match).
    * **Correct:** `足球比赛的裁判` (The referee of the soccer match).
  * **`评委 (píngwěi)` vs. `法官 (fǎguān)`:**
    * **`评委 (píngwěi)`:** A judge for a competition or contest.
    * **`法官 (fǎguān)`:** A judge in a court of law.
    * **Never** use `评委` to refer to a legal judge. This is a critical distinction.
  * **Singular or Plural?:** `评委` can be singular ("a judge") or plural ("the judges"). The context usually makes it clear. To be explicit, you can use a measure word like `一位评委` (yī wèi píngwěi) for singular or add the suffix `们` to make it plural (`评委们`, píngwěimen).
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[裁判]] (cáipàn) - Referee or umpire. The counterpart to `评委` for rule-based sports and games.
  * [[法官]] (fǎguān) - A judge in a court of law. A completely different role from `评委`.
  * [[评选]] (píngxuǎn) - (verb) To select through judgment; the process of judging and choosing a winner.
  * [[评审]] (píngshěn) - (verb) To review and assess, often used for academic papers, proposals, or projects.
  * [[委员会]] (wěiyuánhuì) - Committee. A `评委` is a member of a judging committee.
  * [[专家]] (zhuānjiā) - Expert. A `评委` is almost always expected to be an expert in their field.
  * [[打分]] (dǎfēn) - (verb) To give a score. This is one of the main actions of a `评委`.
  * [[比赛]] (bǐsài) - Competition or match. The primary event where a `评委` is present.
  * [[冠军]] (guànjūn) - Champion. The ultimate winner chosen by the `评委`.
  * [[观众]] (guānzhòng) - Audience. The people who watch the performance and the `评委`'s evaluation.