Proverb / Kotowaza
不偏不党
Maintaining a fair and neutral position without siding with any specific ideology or group.
Not leaning and not forming factions
Quick Answer
Maintaining a fair and neutral position without siding with any specific ideology or group.
- Literal Image
- Not leaning and not forming factions
- How to Use It
- Used when discussing media reporting, legal judgments, or professional conduct where staying neutral and avoiding cliques is essential.
Meaning
This expression describes the act of upholding absolute impartiality and neutrality. It refers to staying independent from specific parties, factions, or belief systems to ensure that judgments and actions remain objective and balanced.
Literal Image
Not leaning and not forming factions
How to Use It
Used when discussing media reporting, legal judgments, or professional conduct where staying neutral and avoiding cliques is essential.
Tone
A formal and professional expression used in organizational, political, or legal contexts.
Examples
公共放送は、常に不偏不党の立場で情報を伝えなければならない。
Public broadcasting must always convey information from a neutral and impartial standpoint.
彼は職場内で派閥争いに加わらず、不偏不党を貫いている。
He stays out of office politics and maintains a strictly impartial stance.
審判員には不偏不党な判定が求められる。
Referees are expected to make fair and neutral judgments.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses formal kanji and a four-character structure (yojijukugo) that is mainly encountered in formal writing or professional contexts.
不偏
ふへん / fuhen
impartial; not leaning
不党
ふとう / futou
non-partisan; not forming factions
公平
こうへい / kouhei
fairness
中立
ちゅうりつ / chuuritsu
neutrality
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a heavy, principled term; using it for trivial matters like food preferences may sound unnatural.
Misread Risk
Do not confuse it with simple indifference; it specifically implies an active commitment to fairness in the face of opposing groups.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The term is derived from the literal meaning of its constituent characters: 'not leaning' (fuhen) and 'not forming factions or parties' (futou). It is used to emphasize the importance of a fair and selfless attitude (kouhei mushi).
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.