Meaning of 平坦
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- level
- even
- smooth
- flat
How to use 平坦
平坦 mostly describes physical surfaces like roads, land, or terrain. It can also describe a life or career path that goes smoothly, often in the negative. Example: 这条路很平坦。(Zhè tiáo lù hěn píngtǎn.) This road is very flat and smooth.
平 (píng) means flat or level, and 坦 (tǎn) has the earth radical 土 on the left, so picture flat, open ground with nothing sticking up. Flat 平 plus open earth 坦 gives you 平坦, a smooth, level surface.
Common mistake: Learners often write 坦 with the sun 日 on its own or confuse it with 但 (dàn), which has the person radical 亻 instead of earth 土. Also remember 坦 is third tone, tǎn, not tān.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
平 píng · flat · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
坦 tǎn · flat · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 平坦.
| 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 平坦
What does 平坦 mean?
平坦 (píngtǎn) means "level; even" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 平坦?
平坦 is made of 2 characters: 平 (5 strokes), 坦 (8 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 平坦 an HSK word?
Yes. 平坦 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 平坦 and 平?
平 alone is a basic word for flat or level and is used in many compounds like 平安 and 水平. 平坦 is a two-syllable adjective that sounds more descriptive and is used mainly for ground, roads, and landscapes.
Can 平坦 describe a person's life?
Yes, in a figurative way. A phrase like 人生的道路并不平坦 (rénshēng de dàolù bìng bù píngtǎn) means the road of life is not always smooth. It is more common in writing and speeches than in casual talk.