====== sǐbǎn: 死板 - Inflexible, Rigid, Dogmatic ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 死板, siban, si ban, Chinese word for inflexible, rigid, dogmatic, stubborn, uncreative, by the book, inflexible person in Chinese, Chinese grammar, Chinese culture, HSK 5 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **死板 (sǐbǎn)**, a common Chinese adjective used to describe someone or something as inflexible, rigid, and dogmatic. This guide breaks down the characters 死 (sǐ - dead) and 板 (bǎn - board) to reveal its literal meaning of "dead board," perfectly capturing its negative connotation. Discover how being too **死板** is viewed in Chinese culture, and learn to use it correctly with 10 practical example sentences, contrasting it with similar terms and avoiding common mistakes.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** sǐbǎn
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** Describes a person, rule, or way of thinking as rigid, inflexible, and stubbornly adhering to conventions.
  * **In a Nutshell:** The literal translation of **死板 (sǐbǎn)** is "dead board," which is a fantastic mental image. Think of a stiff, lifeless plank of wood that cannot bend or adapt. That's the core feeling of this word. It's almost always a criticism, implying a lack of creativity, common sense, or the inability to handle situations flexibly. It's the opposite of being adaptable and resourceful.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **死 (sǐ):** This character's primary meaning is "dead," "to die," or "lifeless." It implies a complete lack of vitality and responsiveness.
  * **板 (bǎn):** This character means "board" or "plank." It evokes a sense of hardness, flatness, and stiffness.
When combined, **死板 (sǐbǎn)** creates a vivid image of a "dead board" – something utterly rigid, unresponsive, and unchangeable. This perfectly illustrates its meaning of being dogmatic, inflexible, and lacking any sort of dynamism or creativity.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In many Western cultures, particularly in a professional context, "following the rules" or "being by the book" can be seen as a positive trait, suggesting fairness, integrity, and consistency. However, in Chinese culture, which often prioritizes social harmony, adaptability, and [[人情]] (rénqíng - human feeling/favor), being too **死板** is a significant social flaw.
A person who is **死板** is seen as foolishly and frustratingly unable to "read the room" or apply common sense. They will enforce a rule even when it is clearly illogical or unhelpful in a specific context. This clashes with the cultural value of [[变通]] (biàntōng), which is the ability to be flexible and find practical workarounds to achieve a goal harmoniously.
For example, a government clerk who refuses to accept an application because of a trivial typo, forcing someone to come back the next day, would be criticized as being extremely **死板**. They are failing to consider the human element ([[人情味]] rénqíngwèi) and are instead blindly following a procedure, causing unnecessary trouble. Therefore, while a Westerner might see the clerk as "just doing their job," a Chinese person would likely see them as frustratingly and inefficiently rigid.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**死板 (sǐbǎn)** is a common adjective used to complain about people, systems, or ideas. It carries a strong negative connotation.
  * **Describing People:** You can use it to describe a boss who won't listen to new ideas, a teacher who only accepts answers exactly as they appear in the textbook, or a parent who has overly rigid rules.
    * //"My manager is so inflexible; he never accepts our suggestions."//
  * **Describing Rules & Systems:** It's frequently used to criticize bureaucracy, company policies, or laws that lack flexibility and common sense.
    * //"The application process is too rigid; it's very inconvenient."//
  * **Describing Thinking & Style:** It can describe a way of thinking that is dogmatic and uncreative, or an artistic style (like drawing or writing) that is stiff and lacks vitality.
    * //"Your design is a bit lifeless, you need to be more creative."//
It's generally used in informal or semi-formal conversations. You would complain about your boss being **死板** to a coworker, but you would likely not say it directly to your boss's face.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他这个人太**死板**了，一点儿都不知道变通。
    * Pinyin: Tā zhège rén tài **sǐbǎn** le, yīdiǎnr dōu bù zhīdào biàntōng.
    * English: He is so rigid, he has no idea how to be flexible.
    * Analysis: A classic complaint about a person's character. It directly contrasts **死板** with its opposite, [[变通]] (biàntōng - flexibility).
  * **Example 2:**
    * 公司的规定太**死板**，很多员工都觉得不合理。
    * Pinyin: Gōngsī de guīdìng tài **sǐbǎn**, hěn duō yuángōng dōu juéde bù hélǐ.
    * English: The company's regulations are too inflexible; many employees feel they are unreasonable.
    * Analysis: Here, **死板** is used to criticize a system or a set of rules, not a person.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我们不能用**死板**的方法来教育孩子。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen bù néng yòng **sǐbǎn** de fāngfǎ lái jiàoyù háizi.
    * English: We cannot use rigid methods to educate children.
    * Analysis: This example applies **死板** to a concept or methodology, in this case, educational methods.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他的画风很**死板**，缺乏生气。
    * Pinyin: Tā de huàfēng hěn **sǐbǎn**, quēfá shēngqì.
    * English: His painting style is very stiff and lacks vitality.
    * Analysis: Shows how **死板** can be used in an artistic context to mean "stiff," "wooden," or "uninspired."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你为什么这么**死板**？就不能给我一次机会吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishénme zhème **sǐbǎn**? Jiù bù néng gěi wǒ yī cì jīhuì ma?
    * English: Why are you so dogmatic? Can't you just give me one chance?
    * Analysis: A good example of a direct, confrontational use of the word, perhaps in a plea or an argument.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 学习语言不能太**死板**，要学会灵活运用。
    * Pinyin: Xuéxí yǔyán bù néng tài **sǐbǎn**, yào xuéhuì línghuó yùnyòng.
    * English: You can't be too rigid when learning a language; you have to learn to use it flexibly.
    * Analysis: This is great advice for language learners! It criticizes the approach of only memorizing rules without understanding how to apply them.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 不要**死板**地遵守每一个字，要理解规则的精神。
    * Pinyin: Búyào **sǐbǎn** de zūnshǒu měi yí ge zì, yào lǐjiě guīzé de jīngshén.
    * English: Don't rigidly adhere to every single word; you need to understand the spirit of the rule.
    * Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the cultural nuance. Being **死板** is about following the "letter of the law" instead of the "spirit of the law."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他对时间的安排非常**死板**，五点一到准时下班。
    * Pinyin: Tā duì shíjiān de ānpái fēicháng **sǐbǎn**, wǔ diǎn yī dào zhǔnshí xiàbān.
    * English: He is very inflexible with his schedule, leaving work exactly on time as soon as it hits five o'clock.
    * Analysis: This describes a behavior. While being punctual can be good, in some work cultures, this level of rigidity might be seen as uncooperative or... **死板**.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 这个软件的界面设计得有点**死板**，不够人性化。
    * Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de jièmiàn shèjì de yǒudiǎn **sǐbǎn**, búgòu rénxìnghuà.
    * English: This software's interface design is a bit stiff and not user-friendly enough.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates its use in a modern, technological context. "Stiff" here means un-intuitive and not fluid.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 传统的观念有时候会显得很**死板**。
    * Pinyin: Chuántǒng de guānniàn yǒushíhou huì xiǎnde hěn **sǐbǎn**.
    * English: Traditional concepts can sometimes seem very dogmatic.
    * Analysis: This applies the term to abstract ideas or mindsets, criticizing them for being outdated and not adaptable to modern times.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Confusing "Rigid" (死板) with "Strict" (严格 yángé).**
    * This is a critical distinction. A good teacher is `严格 (yángé)`, meaning they have high standards and enforce rules for the students' benefit. This is a positive quality. A bad teacher is **死板 (sǐbǎn)**, meaning they rigidly follow the textbook and stifle creativity. This is a negative quality.
    * //Correct:// 我的老师很**严格**，他对我们要求很高。(Wǒ de lǎoshī hěn **yángé**, tā duì wǒmen yāoqiú hěn gāo.) - My teacher is very **strict**; he has high expectations for us. (Positive)
    * //Incorrect/Different Meaning:// 我的老师很**死板**... (Wǒ de lǎoshī hěn **sǐbǎn**...) - My teacher is very **rigid**... (Negative criticism)
  * **Mistake 2: Confusing "Inflexible" (死板) with "Stubborn" (固执 gùzhí).**
    * While related, they focus on different things. `固执 (gùzhí)` is about refusing to change your //opinion//. **死板 (sǐbǎn)** is about refusing to change your //method, process, or interpretation of rules//.
    * A person can be stubborn (`固执`) about wanting to go to a specific restaurant, but flexible (`灵活`) about how to get there. A **死板** person would insist on following only one specific route to that restaurant, even if there's a traffic jam.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[灵活]] (línghuó) - Flexible, agile. The direct antonym of **死板**. It's a highly positive trait.
  * [[变通]] (biàntōng) - To be flexible, to adapt. A verb describing the //action// of finding a flexible solution. It's what a **死板** person cannot do.
  * [[固执]] (gùzhí) - Stubborn, obstinate. Refers to being unwilling to change one's own opinion or decision. It's about mindset more than process.
  * [[呆板]] (dāibǎn) - Dull, stiff, wooden. Similar to **死板**, but often used to describe aesthetics, like a dull design, a stiff posture, or a boring performance. It emphasizes a lack of liveliness.
  * [[僵化]] (jiānghuà) - Ossified, rigidified. A more formal term describing a system, organization, or way of thinking that has //become// rigid and resistant to change over time.
  * [[墨守成规]] (mò shǒu chéng guī) - A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning to rigidly stick to old conventions. It's a more literary way to describe **死板** behavior.
  * [[人情味]] (rénqíngwèi) - "Human touch" or warmth. A person or system that is **死板** is often criticized for lacking `人情味`.