píngwěi: 评委 - Judge, Juror, Panelist

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

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.

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 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 píngwěimen 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.

• `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).

• 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.