Meaning of 公平
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- fair
- impartial
How to use 公平
公平 describes rules, treatment, competition, or prices that do not favor one side. It often appears with 不 to complain, and with 对 to say who is treated fairly. Example: 这样对他不公平。(Zhèyàng duì tā bù gōngpíng.) This is not fair to him.
公 (gōng) means public, as in 公园 (gōngyuán) park, and 平 (píng) means level or flat. Something that is level for the whole public treats everyone the same, so it is fair.
Common mistake: Learners often say 很公平的 for every case, but to say someone acts fairly as an adverb you need 公平地, as in 公平地分 (gōngpíng de fēn) divide fairly. Also keep both syllables in first and second tone. 平 is rising (píng), not falling.
公平 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
公 gōng · public · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
平 píng · flat · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 公平.
| 公司 | gōngsī | company; firm; corporation |
| 办公室 | bàngōngshì | office; business premises |
| 公园 | gōngyuán | park (for public recreation) |
| 公里 | gōnglǐ | kilometer |
| 平常 | píngcháng | ordinary; common |
| 平时 | píngshí | ordinarily; in normal times |
| 公路 | gōnglù | highway; road |
| 水平 | shuǐpíng | horizontal; level; a standard; a level (of ability, development etc) |
| 平安 | píng'ān | safe and sound; well |
| 公斤 | gōngjīn | kilogram (kg) |
| 平等 | píngděng | equal; equality |
| 公交车 | gōngjiāochē | public transport vehicle; town bus |
Questions about 公平
What does 公平 mean?
公平 (gōngpíng) means "fair; impartial" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 公平?
公平 is made of 2 characters: 公 (4 strokes), 平 (5 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 公平 an HSK word?
Yes. 公平 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 公平 and 公正?
公平 (gōngpíng) focuses on equal treatment and equal shares, like a fair game or fair price. 公正 (gōngzhèng) stresses being just and unbiased, often for judges, laws, or decisions. In everyday complaints like "that's not fair," 不公平 is the natural choice.
Can 公平 be used as a noun?
Yes. It can mean fairness, as in 社会公平 (shèhuì gōngpíng) social fairness or 追求公平 (zhuīqiú gōngpíng) pursue fairness. Its opposite in this sense is 不公平 or 不公 (bù gōng).