Meaning of 平等
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- equal
- equality
How to use 平等
平等 works as an adjective (equal) and as a noun (equality), often in social and legal contexts. Example: 男女平等。(Nán nǚ píngděng.) Men and women are equal.
平 (píng) means flat or level, and 等 (děng) means rank or grade. When everyone stands on the same level with no higher rank, that is 平等 (píngděng), equality.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 平等 (píngděng) with 公平 (gōngpíng). 平等 means equal status or rights, while 公平 means fair treatment or a fair process, so say 这不公平 (zhè bù gōngpíng) for "this is unfair," not 这不平等.
平等 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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等 děng · to wait for · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 平等.
| 公平 | gōngpíng | fair; impartial |
| 等到 | děngdào | to wait until; by the time when (sth is ready etc) |
| 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 |
| 等于 | děngyú | to equal; to be tantamount to |
| 一路平安 | yīlù-píng'ān | to have a pleasant journey; Bon voyage! |
| 等待 | děngdài | to wait; to wait for |
| 和平 | hépíng | peace; peaceful |
| 平静 | píngjìng | calm; tranquil; serene |
| 平均 | píngjūn | average; on average; evenly; in equal proportions |
Questions about 平等
What does 平等 mean?
平等 (píngděng) means "equal; equality" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 平等?
平等 is made of 2 characters: 平 (5 strokes), 等 (12 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 平等 an HSK word?
Yes. 平等 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 平等 be used as a verb, like "to treat equally"?
Not by itself. Use a phrase like 平等对待 (píngděng duìdài), to treat equally, as in 平等对待每个人 (treat everyone equally).
What is the opposite of 平等?
The usual opposite is 不平等 (bù píngděng), unequal or inequality. You will see it in phrases like 不平等的待遇 (unequal treatment).