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B1 noun/verb #5,000 most common 9 min read

失衡

shīhéng Top 5,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 失衡 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 失衡 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '失衡' (shīhéng) is quite advanced. You don't need to use it yet. Instead, you should focus on the word '平衡' (pínghéng), which means 'balance.' Think of '失衡' as 'no balance.' If you see this word, just remember it means something is not equal or not right between two things, like having too much work and no time to play. It's like a see-saw that is stuck on one side. You might see it in simple pictures about nature or health.

For A2 learners, '失衡' is a useful word to recognize in health or daily routine contexts. You can think of it as 'lose balance.' For example, if you eat only candy and no vegetables, your food is '失衡.' If you study for 10 hours and sleep for 2 hours, your life is '失衡.' It's a more formal way to say '不平衡' (not balanced). You will start to see this word in short news clips or health tips. Just remember: 失 (lose) + 衡 (balance).

At the B1 level, you should start using '失衡' in your writing and speaking. It is very common when talking about 'work-life balance' (工作与生活的平衡). If you want to say the balance is gone, use '失衡.' You will also encounter it in topics like the environment (生态失衡) and the economy (供需失衡). It's a great 'power word' to make your Chinese sound more mature. Instead of saying 'things are not equal,' you can say 'there is an imbalance' (出现了失衡).

B2 learners should master the various collocations of '失衡.' You should be able to discuss complex social issues like '贫富失衡' (the wealth gap) or '性别失衡' (gender imbalance). You should also understand that '失衡' can be used as a verb to describe a process. For example, '随着人口老龄化，社会结构开始失衡' (As the population ages, the social structure is starting to become imbalanced). It's a key word for the HSK 4 and 5 levels.

At the C1 level, '失衡' is a standard part of your vocabulary for academic and professional discourse. You should use it to describe nuanced states in psychology, such as '心理失衡' (psychological disequilibrium) when someone feels a sense of relative deprivation. You should also be able to distinguish it from similar words like '失调' or '倾斜' in technical writing. You will find this word in deep-dive investigative journalism and philosophical texts about harmony and chaos.

For C2 speakers, '失衡' is used with precision in high-level analysis. You might use it to discuss '全球治理失衡' (imbalance in global governance) or '生态系统反馈机制的失衡' (imbalance in ecosystem feedback mechanisms). You understand its deep cultural roots in the concept of 'He' (harmony) and can use it to critique societal trends. At this level, you don't just know the word; you know the weight it carries in professional Chinese rhetoric.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

失衡 in 30 Seconds

Refers to a state of imbalance or disequilibrium in abstract or systemic contexts.
Used commonly in economics (supply/demand), ecology (environment), and psychology (mental state).
Acts as both a noun (an imbalance) and an intransitive verb (to become imbalanced).
More formal than '不平衡' and emphasizes the loss of a prior balanced state.

The Chinese word 失衡 (shīhéng) is a sophisticated yet commonly used term that translates to 'imbalance' or 'to become out of balance.' It is composed of two characters: 失 (shī), meaning 'to lose' or 'to fail,' and 衡 (héng), which refers to a 'scale,' 'weight,' or the concept of 'equilibrium.' Together, they describe a state where the natural or intended proportion between different elements has been disrupted. This word is essential for B1 learners and above because it bridges the gap between everyday physical descriptions and abstract conceptual discussions in fields like economics, psychology, and environmental science.

Economic Context: In financial and market discussions, you will frequently hear about 供需失衡 (gōngxū shīhéng), which refers to an imbalance between supply and demand. This is a formal way to describe market volatility or shortages.
Psychological Context: When discussing mental health or emotional states, 心理失衡 (xīnlǐ shīhéng) describes a feeling of being mentally overwhelmed or losing one's inner peace due to external pressures or unfair treatment.
Life Balance: Perhaps the most common usage for modern learners relates to 生活与工作的失衡 (shēnghuó yǔ gōngzuò de shīhéng), or the work-life imbalance that many professionals face in fast-paced urban environments.

由于长期的压力，他的内心感到了严重的失衡。(Due to long-term pressure, he felt a serious inner imbalance.)

Historically, the concept of balance (平衡) is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy, particularly within the frameworks of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements (五行). When these elements are in harmony, there is health and prosperity; when they are 失衡, there is chaos, illness, or disaster. Therefore, using this word often carries a connotation that something 'should' be balanced but currently is not, implying a need for correction or adjustment.

生态系统的失衡会导致物种灭绝。(The imbalance of the ecosystem will lead to species extinction.)

You will encounter this word in news reports, academic papers, and serious conversations. It is less likely to be heard in very casual, slang-heavy environments, where people might simply say '不对劲' (not right) or '乱了' (messy). However, understanding 失衡 marks your transition into more professional and nuanced Chinese communication.

这种贸易失衡对两国都没有好处。(This trade imbalance is not good for either country.)

Usage as a Verb: While often a noun, it can function as a verb to describe the process: '比例开始失衡' (The proportions are starting to become imbalanced).

营养失衡是许多现代疾病的根源。(Nutritional imbalance is the root of many modern diseases.)

Using 失衡 (shīhéng) correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical placement. Because it can serve as both a noun and an intransitive verb, its position in a sentence varies depending on whether you are describing a state or an action. Here, we will explore the most common patterns and structures used by native speakers to express various types of imbalance.

Pattern 1: Subject + (很/非常/严重) + 失衡: In this structure, 失衡 acts as an adjective-like verb describing the state of the subject. It is often preceded by degree adverbs.
Example: 这里的男女比例严重失衡。(The male-to-female ratio here is seriously imbalanced.)
Pattern 2: [Noun] 的失衡: Here, 失衡 acts as a noun, often the subject or object of a sentence. This is common in formal writing.
Example: 生态的失衡引起了科学家的关注。(The ecological imbalance has attracted the attention of scientists.)

如果供需失衡，价格就会上涨。(If supply and demand are out of balance, prices will rise.)

When using 失衡 to talk about emotions or psychology, it is frequently paired with words like '内心' (inner heart) or '心理' (psychology). It implies a loss of composure or a sense of injustice. For instance, if a colleague who works less than you gets a promotion, you might feel 心理失衡.

长期的熬夜导致了他的身体机能失衡。(Long-term staying up late led to an imbalance in his bodily functions.)

In academic or technical contexts, you might see it used with specific domain terms. For example, in medicine, '荷尔蒙失衡' (hormonal imbalance) or '电解质失衡' (electrolyte imbalance). In these cases, it acts as a precise technical term. The flexibility of the word allows it to scale from personal feelings to global economic phenomena effortlessly.

Pattern 3: 导致/引起 + [Noun] + 失衡: This causal structure is very common in news reporting.
Example: 这种政策可能导致市场失衡。(This policy might lead to market imbalance.)

我们必须采取措施来纠正这种失衡。(We must take measures to correct this imbalance.)

Understanding where 失衡 (shīhéng) appears in daily life helps you grasp its register and frequency. While it is a B1 level word, its usage spans from news broadcasts to doctor's consultations and corporate meetings. Here are the primary environments where you will encounter this term.

Financial News and Reports: If you watch CCTV Finance or read the Wall Street Journal in Chinese, 失衡 is a staple. Journalists use it to describe trade deficits, stock market fluctuations, and the widening gap between the rich and the poor (贫富失衡).
Health and Wellness Seminars: Nutritionists and fitness coaches use this word to talk about diet. Phrases like '营养摄入失衡' (imbalanced nutritional intake) are common when advising people to eat more vegetables or less sugar.

专家指出，当前房地产市场供需严重失衡。(Experts point out that the current real estate market supply and demand are seriously imbalanced.)

In the workplace, 失衡 is often used during performance reviews or HR discussions. It might refer to a team's workload being unevenly distributed or a project's budget not matching its goals. It is a polite but firm way to point out that things are not functioning correctly.

如果你的工作和生活失衡，你会感到非常疲惫。(If your work and life are out of balance, you will feel very exhausted.)

Environmental documentaries are another major source. When discussing climate change, the '生态失衡' (ecological imbalance) caused by human activity is a central theme. You will hear narrators explain how the loss of one species can cause the entire system to 失衡.

Educational Settings: Teachers use this word to discuss development. For example, '教育资源分配失衡' (imbalanced distribution of educational resources) is a hot topic in Chinese society regarding the gap between urban and rural schools.

这种心理失衡需要及时的心理疏导。(This kind of psychological imbalance requires timely psychological counseling.)

While 失衡 (shīhéng) is a versatile word, English speakers and beginner learners often make specific errors in its application. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid awkward phrasing.

Mistake 1: Using it for Physical Tripping: In English, we say 'I lost my balance' when we trip. In Chinese, you shouldn't say '我失衡了' in this context. Instead, use 失去平衡 (shīqù pínghéng) or 重心不稳 (zhòngxīn bùwěn). 失衡 is usually reserved for abstract systems or long-term states.
Mistake 2: Confusing with '不公平' (Unfair): While an imbalance often feels unfair, 失衡 is a description of the state, not the moral judgment. Use '不公平' (bù gōngpíng) for unfairness and '失衡' for the resulting structural inequality.

Incorrect: 他走路的时候失衡了。
Correct: 他走路的时候失去了平衡。

Another common error is using 失衡 as a transitive verb. You cannot '失衡' a market. You must say the market '出现了失衡' (an imbalance appeared in the market) or '某事导致了市场失衡' (something caused the market to become imbalanced).

Incorrect: 这种政策失衡了经济。
Correct: 这种政策导致了经济失衡。

Learners also sometimes confuse 失衡 with 失调 (shītiáo). While similar, 失调 is more commonly used for biological systems or lack of coordination (e.g., 内分泌失调 - endocrine disorder). 失衡 is broader and more focused on the weight/proportion aspect of the imbalance.

Mistake 3: Overusing it in Casual Talk: Saying '我今天的饮食失衡' (My diet today is imbalanced) sounds a bit like a textbook. In casual speech, people just say '我今天吃得不健康' (I ate unhealthily today).

To truly master 失衡 (shīhéng), it is helpful to compare it with related terms. Chinese has many words for 'imbalance' or 'lack of harmony,' each with a specific flavor and use case. Choosing the right one will significantly improve your fluency and precision.

失衡 vs. 不平衡 (bù pínghéng): 不平衡 is the most direct opposite of 'balanced' and is more general. It can be used for physical, emotional, or systemic imbalance. 失衡 is more formal and often implies a process of *losing* a balance that once existed.
失衡 vs. 失调 (shītiáo): 失调 implies a lack of coordination or 'tuning.' It is almost always used for health (e.g., hormones) or climate (e.g., rain patterns). Use 失衡 when the issue is about 'too much of A and too little of B.'

虽然这两个词意思相近，但“失衡”更常用于宏观经济。(Although these two words are similar in meaning, 'shīhéng' is more commonly used in macroeconomics.)

Another related word is 倾斜 (qīngxié), which means 'to tilt' or 'to lean.' This is used when a policy or situation favors one side significantly. While 失衡 describes the state of the scale, 倾斜 describes the direction in which the scale is leaning.

资源分配向大城市倾斜，导致了区域发展的失衡。(Resource distribution tilts toward big cities, leading to an imbalance in regional development.)

Finally, consider 悬殊 (xuánshū), which means a 'great disparity.' This is used when the gap between two things is enormous, such as '实力悬殊' (a great disparity in strength). While 失衡 focuses on the lack of balance, 悬殊 focuses on the size of the gap.

Quick Comparison Table

失衡: Systems, economics, long-term states.
不平衡: General use, physical or abstract.
失调: Biological, climate, coordination.
倾斜: Favoritism, physical tilting.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '衡' (héng) also contains the radical for 'walking' or 'street' (行), suggesting the movement or adjustment required to find balance.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃiː hʌŋ/

US /ʃiː hʌŋ/

Equal stress on both syllables, following the standard Mandarin tone pattern.

Rhymes With

诗 (shī) 失 (shī) 师 (shī) 横 (héng) 恒 (héng) 层 (céng) 灯 (dēng) 冷 (lěng)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'shī' as 'shì' (4th tone).
Pronouncing 'héng' as 'hèng' (4th tone).
Confusing the retroflex 'sh' with a flat 's' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are somewhat complex but common in news.

Writing 4/5

Writing '衡' requires practice with its many strokes.

Speaking 3/5

The tones are straightforward but retroflex 'sh' is tricky.

Listening 3/5

Easy to recognize in formal broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

失平衡比例关系生活

Learn Next

失调均衡协调导致缓解

Advanced

宏观调控供需关系生态系统心理健康分配不均

Grammar to Know

Using '导致' to show cause and effect with '失衡'.

长期的压力导致了心理失衡。

Using '严重' as an adverb to modify '失衡'.

这里的男女比例严重失衡。

The 'Noun + 的 + 失衡' pattern for subjects.

生态的失衡是一个大问题。

Using '处于...状态' (In a state of...).

目前的市场处于失衡状态。

Using '防止' (Prevent) with '失衡'.

我们要采取措施防止生态失衡。

Examples by Level

我的生活不平衡。

My life is not balanced.

A1 level uses '不平衡' instead of '失衡'.

我们要平衡工作和学习。

We need to balance work and study.

Using '平衡' as a verb.

这个天平失衡了。

This scale is out of balance.

Simple physical description.

他不平衡。 (meaning: He is not balanced)

He is out of balance.

Subject + adjective-like verb.

多吃菜，不要营养失衡。

Eat more vegetables, don't have imbalanced nutrition.

Common health advice.

生态失衡很危险。

Ecological imbalance is dangerous.

Noun phrase.

男女比例失衡。

The male-female ratio is imbalanced.

Topic-comment structure.

他的心里失衡了。

He felt an inner imbalance.

Psychological state.

由于工作太忙，他的生活失衡了。

Because work is too busy, his life became imbalanced.

Using '由于' (due to) to explain the cause.

营养失衡对身体不好。

Nutritional imbalance is bad for the body.

Subject phrase.

这个国家的男女比例严重失衡。

The male-to-female ratio in this country is seriously imbalanced.

Adding '严重' (serious) as an adverb.

我们不能让生态系统失衡。

We cannot let the ecosystem become imbalanced.

Using '让' (let/cause) structure.

他的心理感到了失衡。

He felt a psychological imbalance.

Verb '感到' + noun '失衡'.

市场供需失衡导致价格变高。

Market supply and demand imbalance leads to higher prices.

Complex subject.

如果比例失衡，实验就会失败。

If the proportions are imbalanced, the experiment will fail.

Conditional '如果...就...'.

这种发展是不平衡的，也是失衡的。

This development is unbalanced and imbalanced.

Comparing synonyms.

长期的贸易逆差导致了两国关系的失衡。

The long-term trade deficit led to an imbalance in the relationship between the two countries.

Formal '导致' (lead to) structure.

在现代社会，很多人都面临着心理失衡的问题。

In modern society, many people face the problem of psychological imbalance.

Using '面临' (be faced with).

为了防止生态失衡，政府禁止了捕猎。

In order to prevent ecological imbalance, the government banned hunting.

Purpose clause '为了防止'.

这种教育资源的失衡引起了社会的广泛关注。

This imbalance of educational resources has attracted widespread social attention.

Passive-like '引起...关注' structure.

如果营养严重失衡，可能会引发各种疾病。

If nutrition is seriously imbalanced, it may trigger various diseases.

Using '引发' (trigger).

他觉得努力和收入不成正比，产生了心理失衡。

He felt his effort and income were not proportional, resulting in a psychological imbalance.

Resultative '产生了'.

我们要努力纠正这种不健康的失衡状态。

We must strive to correct this unhealthy state of imbalance.

Verb '纠正' (correct) + object.

由于人口结构失衡，劳动力变得短缺。

Due to the imbalance of the population structure, the labor force has become scarce.

Causal '由于' with a noun phrase.

全球化在带来利益的同时，也加剧了贫富失衡。

While globalization brings benefits, it also exacerbates the wealth imbalance.

Using '加剧' (exacerbate).

该地区的生态失衡已经到了不可逆转的地步。

The ecological imbalance in this region has reached an irreversible stage.

Resultative '到了...的地步'.

心理失衡如果得不到疏导，可能会演变成抑郁症。

If psychological imbalance is not channeled, it may evolve into depression.

Conditional with '演变成' (evolve into).

这种权力的失衡必然会导致腐败的滋生。

This imbalance of power will inevitably lead to the breeding of corruption.

Using '必然' (inevitably) and '滋生' (breed).

房地产市场的供需失衡是房价居高不下的主因。

The imbalance of supply and demand in the real estate market is the main reason for the high housing prices.

A is B structure with a complex subject.

我们需要重新审视这种失衡的发展模式。

We need to re-examine this imbalanced development model.

Verb '重新审视' (re-examine).

这种荷尔蒙失衡可以通过药物和饮食来调节。

This hormonal imbalance can be regulated through medication and diet.

Passive '通过...来调节' (regulated through).

由于缺乏监管，金融市场出现了严重的失衡。

Due to lack of regulation, the financial market has experienced serious imbalance.

Using '出现了' (appeared/occurred).

这种由于信息不对称导致的权力失衡，是合同纠纷的根源。

This imbalance of power caused by information asymmetry is the root of contract disputes.

Highly formal '信息不对称' (information asymmetry).

在后工业化时代，劳动与资本的比例进一步失衡。

In the post-industrial era, the ratio of labor to capital has further become imbalanced.

Temporal phrase '在...时代'.

这种心理失衡反映了当代青年在激烈竞争下的焦虑感。

This psychological imbalance reflects the anxiety of contemporary youth under fierce competition.

Verb '反映' (reflect).

生态系统的微妙平衡一旦被打破，往往会陷入长期的失衡。

Once the delicate balance of the ecosystem is broken, it often falls into a long-term imbalance.

Structure '一旦...往往会...'.

城乡发展的失衡，是当前中国社会面临的重大挑战之一。

The imbalance of urban and rural development is one of the major challenges facing contemporary Chinese society.

Formal sociological observation.

货币供应量过大必然会导致资产价格的失衡。

An excessive money supply will inevitably lead to an imbalance in asset prices.

Economic causal link.

这种审美取向的失衡，反映了消费主义对大众文化的侵蚀。

This imbalance in aesthetic orientation reflects the erosion of mass culture by consumerism.

Abstract noun '审美取向' (aesthetic orientation).

通过宏观调控，政府试图缓解目前经济结构的失衡。

Through macro-control, the government is trying to alleviate the current structural imbalance of the economy.

Using '缓解' (alleviate).

地缘政治的剧烈变动加剧了国际秩序的失衡。

Violent changes in geopolitics have exacerbated the imbalance of the international order.

Advanced vocabulary '地缘政治' (geopolitics).

这种深层结构的失衡，并非简单的政策调整所能解决。

This deep structural imbalance cannot be solved by simple policy adjustments.

Structure '并非...所能...' (is not something that can be...).

知识产出的失衡，正在拉大不同文明之间的数字鸿沟。

The imbalance in knowledge output is widening the digital divide between different civilizations.

Metaphorical '数字鸿沟' (digital divide).

从存在主义的角度看，这种失衡是个体在荒诞世界中的必然体验。

From an existentialist perspective, this imbalance is an inevitable experience of the individual in an absurd world.

Philosophical '存在主义' (existentialism).

算法推荐的偏好可能导致用户获取信息的严重失衡。

The preference of algorithmic recommendations may lead to a serious imbalance in the information users obtain.

Technical '算法推荐' (algorithmic recommendation).

这种生态伦理的失衡，源于人类对自然资源的过度掠夺。

This imbalance in ecological ethics stems from human over-exploitation of natural resources.

Verb '源于' (stems from).

在资本逻辑的支配下，社会再生产的各个环节出现了系统性失衡。

Under the dominance of capital logic, systemic imbalances have appeared in various links of social reproduction.

Marxist-influenced terminology.

我们需要构建一种新的平衡，以应对这种由技术变革引发的失衡。

We need to build a new balance to cope with this imbalance triggered by technological change.

Purpose clause '以应对' (in order to cope with).

Synonyms

不平衡倾斜脱节错位

Antonyms

平衡协调

Common Collocations

严重失衡

心理失衡

供需失衡

生态失衡

贸易失衡

比例失衡

营养失衡

结构失衡

失衡状态

出现失衡

Common Phrases

工作生活失衡

— When one's professional life takes up too much time compared to personal life.

很多年轻人都在抱怨工作生活失衡。

荷尔蒙失衡

— A medical condition where hormones are not at the correct levels.

荷尔蒙失衡会影响情绪。

贫富失衡

— The widening gap between the rich and the poor.

我们要努力解决社会贫富失衡的问题。

心态失衡

— Losing one's mental composure or feeling jealous/unfairly treated.

看到同学发财，他有些心态失衡。

资源失衡

— Uneven distribution of resources (money, water, etc.).

全球资源失衡是一个严峻的挑战。

电解质失衡

— A medical state regarding salts in the body.

剧烈运动后要注意补充水分，防止电解质失衡。

供求失衡

— Similar to 供需失衡, focusing on supply and demand.

供求失衡是房价上涨的根本原因。

性别失衡

— An unequal ratio of men to women.

性别失衡会带来一系列社会问题。

功能失衡

— When a part of a system or body doesn't function in proportion to others.

肝脏功能失衡会引发身体不适。

内外失衡

— Imbalance between internal and external factors.

这家公司面临着内外失衡的压力。

Often Confused With

失衡 vs 失去平衡

Used for physical balance, like falling off a bike. '失衡' is for abstract systems.

失衡 vs 失调

Used for lack of coordination or biological functions (e.g., hormones). '失衡' is more about proportions.

失衡 vs 不平

Usually means 'unfair' or 'injustice.' '失衡' is a description of the resulting state.

Idioms & Expressions

"阴阳失衡"

— An imbalance between Yin and Yang, often used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

中医认为，生病是因为阴阳失衡。

Traditional/Formal

"轻重失衡"

— Failing to distinguish what is important from what is trivial.

他在处理问题时总是轻重失衡。

Formal

"失衡之势"

— A trend or state of being out of balance.

目前的局面已经呈现出失衡之势。

Literary

"比例失调"

— Similar to 失衡, meaning proportions are out of whack.

这幅画的比例失调，看起来很奇怪。

Neutral

"左右失据"

— Not literally imbalance, but a state of being stuck because of a loss of balance/support.

他在两难的境地中左右失据。

Literary

"顾此失彼"

— To attend to one thing and lose sight of another (a form of imbalance).

忙碌的工作让他顾此失彼，生活一团糟。

Common Idiom

"畸轻畸重"

— Extremely uneven or imbalanced (one side too light, one too heavy).

法律的执行不能畸轻畸重。

Formal

"不平则鸣"

— When there is injustice (imbalance), people will complain.

自古以来就是不平则鸣。

Literary

"平起平坐"

— To be on equal footing (the opposite of being in an imbalanced relationship).

他们现在终于可以平起平坐了。

Common Idiom

"一落千丈"

— A sudden drop, which often causes a system to go into 失衡.

他的信誉在一夜之间一落千丈。

Common Idiom

Easily Confused

失衡 vs 失调

Both start with '失' and mean something is wrong.

'失调' is for 'tuning' or 'coordination' (like internal organs), while '失衡' is for 'weight' or 'proportion' (like supply and demand).

内分泌失调 vs 贸易失衡

失衡 vs 偏颇

Both imply a lack of balance.

'偏颇' is specifically for opinions or judgments that are biased. '失衡' is for systemic states.

言论偏颇 vs 心理失衡

失衡 vs 悬殊

Both describe a gap.

'悬殊' emphasizes the *magnitude* of the difference (huge gap), while '失衡' emphasizes the *lack of balance* in the system.

实力悬殊 vs 性别失衡

失衡 vs 动荡

Instability often accompanies imbalance.

'动荡' is about physical or political shaking/upheaval. '失衡' is about the state of the scale being uneven.

政局动荡 vs 经济失衡

失衡 vs 倾斜

A scale that is imbalanced is tilted.

'倾斜' is the action of leaning or favoring one side. '失衡' is the abstract state of the imbalance.

重心倾斜 vs 供需失衡

Sentence Patterns

由于...失衡了。

由于太忙，我的生活失衡了。

导致...失衡。

这导致了供需失衡。

出现了...失衡。

市场出现了严重的失衡。

...加剧了...失衡。

人口老龄化加剧了社会失衡。

纠正...失衡。

我们需要纠正这种贸易失衡。

...是...失衡的根源。

不公平是心理失衡的根源。

缓解...失衡。

政府试图缓解结构性失衡。

处于...失衡之势。

局面正处于严重的失衡之势。

Word Family

Nouns

平衡 (Balance)

均衡 (Equilibrium)

失衡 (Imbalance)

Verbs

失衡 (To become imbalanced)

平衡 (To balance)

调整 (To adjust)

Adjectives

失衡的 (Imbalanced)

平衡的 (Balanced)

均衡的 (Equalized)

比例 (Proportion)

结构 (Structure)

状态 (Status)

导致 (Cause)

纠正 (Correct)

How to Use It

frequency

High in news and academic writing; moderate in daily conversation.

Common Mistakes

我走路失衡了。 → 我走路失去了平衡。
'失衡' is for abstract or systemic imbalance, not for physical tripping.
这种政策失衡了市场。 → 这种政策导致了市场失衡。
'失衡' is an intransitive verb. It cannot take a direct object.
他的脑子失衡了。 → 他的精神失常了 / 他心理失衡了。
'失衡' doesn't mean 'crazy' like in English. Use it for emotional/structural imbalance only.
比例不衡。 → 比例失衡。
You cannot shorten '失衡' to '不衡'. You must use the full word.
我们要失衡这个问题。 → 我们要解决失衡的问题。
You cannot '失衡' a problem. You 'solve' (解决) an imbalance.

Tips

System Focus

Always use '失衡' when talking about systems (economy, nature, body) rather than simple physical objects.

Verb Usage

Remember that '失衡' is intransitive. Use '导致...失衡' if you want to say something caused an imbalance.

Prefixes

Learn the common prefixes: 供需 (supply-demand), 心理 (mental), 生态 (ecological), 贸易 (trade).

Philosophy

Understand that '失衡' is the opposite of the Chinese ideal of harmony (和).

Retroflex 'Sh'

Make sure to curl your tongue for 'shī' so it doesn't sound like 'sī'.

Stroke Order

The middle part of '衡' is tricky. Write the '行' radical first (left and right sides) then fill the middle.

Mentality

Use '心态失衡' to describe that feeling when everyone on Instagram seems richer than you.

Formal Reports

Use '失衡' instead of '不平衡' in any formal report or academic paper.

Medical Accuracy

Use '荷尔蒙失衡' rather than '荷尔蒙不平衡' when talking to a doctor.

News Clues

When you hear '失衡' in news, look for the word '导致' right before it to find the cause.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a person holding a 'Scale' (衡) but then 'Losing' (失) their grip on it. The scale tips over, and everything becomes '失衡' (imbalanced).

Visual Association

Imagine a see-saw with a giant 'Work' block on one side and a tiny 'Life' block on the other. This is '失衡'.

Word Web

Balance Scale Lose Economics Ecology Psychology Inequality Proportion

Challenge

Try to use '失衡' in a sentence about your favorite hobby and how it might take up too much of your time.

Word Origin

The word is a modern compound of two ancient characters. '失' (shī) dates back to Oracle Bone Script and depicts a hand dropping something, signifying 'to lose.' '衡' (héng) originally depicted the crossbar of a scale used for weighing, signifying 'balance.'

Original meaning: To lose the balance of a scale.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be careful when using '失衡' to describe people's mental health; it is a descriptive term but can sound clinical.

English speakers often use 'unbalanced' to mean 'crazy.' In Chinese, '失衡' is more about the system than the person's sanity.

The 'Great Divergence' in history is often described as a '发展失衡' between East and West. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses almost entirely on correcting '阴阳失衡'. Contemporary Chinese social media often discusses '心理失衡' in the context of 'involution' (内卷).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Economic News

贸易失衡
供需失衡
结构性失衡
市场失衡

Health Advice

营养失衡
荷尔蒙失衡
身体功能失衡
电解质失衡

Environmental Discussion

生态失衡
自然平衡
物种失衡
环境失衡

Social Issues

贫富失衡
性别失衡
教育资源失衡
发展失衡

Personal Psychology

心理失衡
心态失衡
内心失衡
情绪失衡

Conversation Starters

"你觉得在你的国家，工作和生活的平衡是否已经失衡了？"

"如果一个社会的贫富差距过大，会导致什么样的失衡？"

"你有没有过因为某种不公平的事情而感到心理失衡？"

"你认为现在的生态失衡最严重的问题是什么？"

"当你的生活失衡时，你会采取什么措施来调整？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你感到工作或学习与生活严重失衡的经历，以及你如何应对。

论述你对当前全球资源分配失衡的看法。

写一段关于如何预防营养失衡的健康建议。

想象一个生态完全失衡的世界，写一段描写。

反思一下，为什么人们在看到别人成功时容易产生心理失衡？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. In English, 'unbalanced' can mean mentally unstable or crazy. In Chinese, '失衡' is more clinical. You can say '心理失衡' to mean someone is emotionally upset due to unfairness, but it doesn't mean they are 'insane.' For 'crazy,' use words like '疯' or '精神失常'.

'不平衡' is the general word for 'not balanced' and can be used for anything, including a table that wobbles. '失衡' is more formal and usually refers to systems like the economy, ecology, or long-term psychological states. Think of '失衡' as a more professional way to say 'imbalance.'

It can be both. As a noun, it means 'an imbalance' (e.g., 贸易失衡). As a verb, it means 'to become imbalanced' (e.g., 比例失衡了). However, it is an intransitive verb, meaning you can't '失衡' something else; things just '失衡' on their own or because of something else.

The most common way is '工作与生活的平衡' (gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó de pínghéng). If you want to say that balance is gone, you say '工作与生活失衡' (gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó shīhéng).

Yes, it is very common in medical Chinese. You will hear phrases like '荷尔蒙失衡' (hormonal imbalance), '营养失衡' (nutritional imbalance), or '电解质失衡' (electrolyte imbalance).

The character '衡' has 16 strokes and a complex structure. It consists of '行' (to walk/act) on the outside and '鱼' (fish) and '大' (big) inside, though the middle part is actually a transformation of a scale. Practice the stroke order carefully!

Yes, '失衡' is typically found in HSK 5 and HSK 6 materials, particularly in reading passages about society, science, and the economy.

Yes, you can use it for a literal scale (天平), but it sounds quite poetic or formal. In a science lab, you might say '天平失去了平衡'.

The most common is '严重' (yánzhòng - serious). Others include '长期' (chángqī - long-term), '暂时' (zànshí - temporary), and '心理' (xīnlǐ - psychological).

You can use it to describe market trends, e.g., '我们必须关注目前市场上的供需失衡' (We must pay attention to the current supply-demand imbalance in the market).