主观 (zhǔguān)

主观 describes judgments, perceptions, or assessments that are based on personal feelings, opinions, or biases rather than objective facts, and is often contrasted with 客观 (objective).

Meanings

[adjective] subjective; based on personal opinion or feelings rather than external reality
[noun] subjectivity; one's subjective perspective

Example Sentences

他对这件事的判断太主观了，没有充分考虑到客观事实。 Tā duì zhè jiàn shì de pànduàn tài zhǔguān le, méiyǒu chōngfèn kǎolǜ dào kèguān shìshí. His judgment on this matter is too subjective; he has not fully considered the objective facts.

艺术评价往往带有很强的主观性，不同的人会有不同的感受。 Yìshù píngjià wǎngwǎng dài yǒu hěn qiáng de zhǔguānxìng, bùtóng de rén huì yǒu bùtóng de gǎnshòu. Art criticism often carries strong subjectivity; different people will have different feelings.

科学研究要求研究者尽量排除主观因素，以保证结果的客观性。 Kēxué yánjiū yāoqiú yánjiūzhě jǐnliàng páichú zhǔguān yīnsù, yǐ bǎozhèng jiéguǒ de kèguānxìng. Scientific research requires researchers to eliminate subjective factors as much as possible to ensure the objectivity of results.

她主观地认为那个人不喜欢她，但实际上对方只是比较内向。 Tā zhǔguān de rènwéi nà gè rén bù xǐhuān tā, dàn shíjì shàng duìfāng zhǐshì bǐjiào nèixiàng. She subjectively believed that the person did not like her, but in reality the other party was just more introverted.

新闻报道应当尽量客观公正，避免夹杂主观情绪。 Xīnwén bàodào yīngdāng jǐnliàng kèguān gōngzhèng, bìmiǎn jiāzá zhǔguān qínxù. News reporting should be as objective and impartial as possible, avoiding the mixing in of subjective emotions.

主观能动性是指人发挥自身主动性和创造性的能力。 Zhǔguān néngdòngxìng shì zhǐ rén fāhuī zìshēn zhǔdòngxìng hé chuàngzàoxìng de nénglì. Subjective initiative refers to a person's ability to exercise their own initiative and creativity.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
主观判断	subjective judgment
主观意识	subjective consciousness
主观因素	subjective factors
主观能动性	subjective initiative; subjective drive
主客观	subjective and objective (paired term)
过于主观	too subjective; overly subjective

Usage Notes

主观 is almost always used in contrast with its antonym 客观 (objective). In academic, philosophical, and everyday discourse, calling something 主观 often implies it lacks reliability because it is colored by personal bias. However, 主观能动性 (subjective initiative) is a positive term in Chinese academic writing, referring to a person's proactive drive and creative capacity.

Note that in Chinese academic essays, writers often express the importance of being 客观 and avoiding 主观 bias, making this a very useful word for argumentative writing at B2 level.

Memory Hook

主 means "self/master" and 观 means "view/perspective" — 主观 is your own self's view, i.e., subjective. Its opposite 客观 (guest's view) is what exists independent of you.