`偏心` holds significant weight in Chinese culture, primarily due to the strong emphasis on family harmony and collective well-being. In a Western context, “playing favorites” is certainly frowned upon, but an accusation of `偏心` within a Chinese family can be a much more profound and serious charge. It strikes at the core of relational obligations. Parents are expected to embody fairness, often expressed by the idiom 一碗水端平 (yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng), which literally means “to hold a bowl of water level”—a metaphor for treating everyone, especially one's children, with perfect impartiality. When a child accuses a parent of `偏心`, they aren't just saying “it's not fair”; they are highlighting a fundamental disruption in the family's moral and emotional balance. This is particularly true in historical contexts involving 重男轻女 (zhòng nán qīng nǚ), the practice of favoring sons over daughters, a classic and damaging form of `偏心`. Therefore, understanding `偏心` is not just about learning a new word; it's about grasping the deep cultural expectation of fairness that underpins so many social relationships in China.
`偏心` is a common word used in everyday conversation. Its connotation is almost always negative, as it's typically used as a complaint or an accusation.