平 meaning and stroke order
Flat; level; smooth; to make even; to level; equal; on the same level
How to write 平, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 平
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- flat; level; smooth
- to make even; to level
- equal; on the same level
- (bound form) fair; impartial
- to tie; to draw
- (bound form) average; ordinary
How 平 is built
Pictographic character. A leveling scale.
Radical: 广 (broad), shared by 60 characters on this site.
How to remember 平
Picture 平 as a leveling scale: the long horizontal strokes are the balanced beam, and the two small marks 丷 sit evenly on each side. When both sides match, everything is flat, even, and calm.
平 (píng) appears mostly in compound words about evenness, fairness, and peace, such as 公平 (gōngpíng) fair, 和平 (hépíng) peace, and 水平 (shuǐpíng) level or standard. It also describes an everyday, normal state in words like 平时 (píngshí) and 平常 (píngcháng). Example: 祝你一路平安。(Zhù nǐ yīlù píng'ān.) Have a safe trip.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 平 with 半 (bàn, half). 平 has two short dots above the middle beam and a vertical stroke that does not poke out the top. 半 has its vertical stroke running through the top. Also keep the tone rising: say píng, not pǐng or pìng.
Common words with 平
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 公平 | gōngpíng | fair; impartial | HSK 2 |
| 平常 | píngcháng | ordinary; common | HSK 2 |
| 平时 | píngshí | ordinarily; in normal times | HSK 2 |
| 水平 | shuǐpíng | horizontal; level; a standard; a level (of ability, development etc) | HSK 2 |
| 平安 | píng'ān | safe and sound; well | HSK 2 |
| 平等 | píngděng | equal; equality | HSK 2 |
| 一路平安 | yīlù-píng'ān | to have a pleasant journey; Bon voyage! | HSK 2 |
| 和平 | hépíng | peace; peaceful | HSK 3 |
| 平静 | píngjìng | calm; tranquil; serene | HSK 4 |
| 平均 | píngjūn | average; on average; evenly; in equal proportions | HSK 4 |
| 平稳 | píngwěn | smooth; steady | HSK 4 |
| 平方 | píngfāng | square (as in square foot, square mile, square root) | HSK 4 |
| 平原 | píngyuán | field; plain | HSK 5 |
| 平坦 | píngtǎn | level; even | HSK 5 |
平 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 平
Learning 平 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 平
How many strokes are in 平?
平 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 平 mean?
平 (píng) means flat; level; smooth; to make even; to level; equal; on the same level. A common word with it is 公平 (gōngpíng), meaning "fair; impartial".
How do you pronounce 平?
平 is pronounced píng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 平?
The radical of 平 is 广, which carries the idea of "broad". Dictionaries list 平 under this radical.
Is 平 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 平 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 平时 and 平常?
Both can mean usually or in normal times, as in 我平时七点起床 (wǒ píngshí qī diǎn qǐchuáng), I usually get up at seven. 平常 can also be an adjective meaning ordinary, as in 很平常 (hěn píngcháng), very ordinary. 平时 is not used that way.
Can 平 mean a tie in a game?
Yes. In sports, 平 means to draw or tie, as in 两队打平了 (liǎng duì dǎ píng le), the two teams tied. Scores are also read this way, so 二比二平 (èr bǐ èr píng) means a two to two draw.