Meaning of 平
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- 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
- (bound form) calm; peaceful
- (bound form) to quell; to suppress; to put down
- surname Ping
How to use 平
平 shows up in many everyday words about fairness, normal life, and peace, such as 平时 (píngshí), 公平 (gōngpíng), and 平安 (píng'ān). On its own it often describes a flat surface or a tied score. Example: 这条路很平。(Zhè tiáo lù hěn píng.) This road is very flat.
Look at 平 (píng) as a perfectly balanced scale: two flat lines on top, two little dots on each side weighing the same, and a straight post down the middle. Everything is level and even, so it means flat, equal, and calm.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 平 with 半 (bàn, half), which has dots pointing the other way above its first stroke and a vertical stroke that pokes through the top. Also keep the second tone in 平, and do not mix it up with 苹 (píng) in 苹果 (píngguǒ, apple), which adds the grass radical on top.
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.
平 píng · flat · 5 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 平.
| 公平 | gōngpíng | fair; impartial |
| 平常 | píngcháng | ordinary; common |
| 平时 | píngshí | ordinarily; in normal times |
| 水平 | shuǐpíng | horizontal; level; a standard; a level (of ability, development etc) |
| 平安 | píng'ān | safe and sound; well |
| 平等 | píngděng | equal; equality |
| 一路平安 | yīlù-píng'ān | to have a pleasant journey; Bon voyage! |
| 和平 | hépíng | peace; peaceful |
| 平静 | píngjìng | calm; tranquil; serene |
| 平均 | píngjūn | average; on average; evenly; in equal proportions |
| 平稳 | píngwěn | smooth; steady |
| 平方 | píngfāng | square (as in square foot, square mile, square root) |
Questions about 平
What does 平 mean?
平 (píng) means "flat; level; smooth; to make even; to level" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 平?
平 is made of 1 character: 平 (5 strokes). That is 5 strokes in total.
Is 平 an HSK word?
Yes. 平 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say a game ended in a tie using 平?
You can say 打平了 (dǎ píng le), meaning they tied. Scores are also read with 平, for example 二平 (èr píng) for two all.
What is the difference between 平时 and 平常?
平时 (píngshí) means usually or in normal times and works mainly as a time word, as in 我平时七点起床. 平常 (píngcháng) can mean the same, but it can also be an adjective meaning ordinary, as in 很平常的一天, a very ordinary day.