Meaning of 平原
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- field
- plain
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 平原
平原 is a geography word for large flat areas of land, often used in names and in describing farmland or landscapes. It contrasts with 山区 (shānqū) mountain areas and 高原 (gāoyuán) plateau. Example: 华北平原很大。(Huáběi píngyuán hěn dà.) The North China Plain is very large.
平 (píng) means flat or level, and 原 (yuán) means a wide open field or plain. Put them together and you get a flat, open stretch of land: a plain.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 原 (yuán) with 源 (yuán, source), which adds the water radical 氵. 平原 uses 原 with no water radical, and both syllables are second tone: píngyuán.
平原 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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原 yuán · former · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 平原.
| 原因 | yuányīn | cause; origin |
| 原来 | yuánlái | original; former; originally; formerly; at first |
| 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 |
| 原则 | yuánzé | principle; doctrine |
Questions about 平原
What does 平原 mean?
平原 (píngyuán) means "field; plain" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 平原?
平原 is made of 2 characters: 平 (5 strokes), 原 (10 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 平原 an HSK word?
Yes. 平原 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 平原 and 高原?
平原 (píngyuán) is low, flat land, while 高原 (gāoyuán) is a plateau, which is flat land at high altitude. For example, 青藏高原 is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Can 平原 be used for a small field or lawn?
Not usually. 平原 describes a large geographic region. For a farm field you would say 田 (tián) or 田地 (tiándì), and for a grassy area you would say 草地 (cǎodì).