平

See also: 乎

平	U+5E73, 平 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5E73

← 干
[U+5E72]

CJK Unified Ideographs

年 →
[U+5E74]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

平 (Kangxi radical 51, 干+2, 5 strokes, cangjie input 一火十 (MFJ), four-corner 1040₉, composition ⿻干丷(GHTJV) or ⿻干八(K))

Derived characters

伻, 呯, 坪, 㛁, 岼, 𪪭, 怦, 抨, 泙, 𨸶, 𫯡, 𪰓, 胓, 枰, 𤇊, 𤘾, 玶, 𨒳, 𪜉, 𬑈, 砰, 秤, 𥹒, 𮈈, 䍈, 䍬, 蚲, 評(评), 軯, 𨥾, 𢆠, 駍(𬳴), 鮃(鲆), 䶄, 𢆊, 𢆕, 㼞, 𨠟, 𪪇, 匉, 苹, 𢆓, 𤵣, 𬔳, 閛, 𡊞

Chinese

simp. and trad.		平
alternative forms		𠀒𠀭𤔁

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 平
Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (平) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
平	ben, beŋ
怦	*pʰreːŋ
砰	*pʰreːŋ
抨	*pʰreːŋ
閛	*pʰreːŋ
伻	*pʰreːŋ
評	beŋ, beŋs
坪	*beŋ
苹	*beŋ
枰	beŋ, beŋs
泙	*beŋ
蚲	*beŋ
胓	*beŋ
匉	*pʰreːŋ
萍	*beːŋ

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(p/b)ljaŋ (“plank; palm; flat surface; wing”), whence Jingpho phun-pyen (phun⁵⁵ pjen³³, “plank”), Burmese ပြန့် (pran., “flat and even”) (STEDT).

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): píng (ping²)
(Zhuyin): ㄆㄧㄥˊ
(Chengdu, SP): pin²
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): ping⁴, peng⁴
(Taishan, Wiktionary): pen³, piang³
Gan (Wiktionary): piang² / pin²
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): phiàng / phìn
(Meixian, Guangdong): pin² / piang²
Jin (Wiktionary): ping¹
Min Bei (KCR): běng / bia̿ng
Min Dong (BUC): bàng / bìng
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): pîⁿ / pêⁿ / piâⁿ / pêng
(Teochew, Peng'im): bên⁵ / pêng⁵
Wu (Wiktionary): bin (T3)
Xiang (Wiktionary): bin²

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: píng
  - Zhuyin: ㄆㄧㄥˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: píng
  - Wade–Giles: pʻing²
  - Yale: píng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: pyng
  - Palladius: пин (pin)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰiŋ³⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: pin²
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: pin
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰin²¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: ping⁴, peng⁴
  - Yale: pìhng, pèhng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: ping⁴, peng⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: ping⁴, péng⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰɪŋ²¹/, /pʰɛːŋ²¹/

Note: peng4 - only in the sense "cheap".

- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: pen³, piang³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰen²²/, /pʰiaŋ²²/

Note: piang3 - only in the sense "cheap".

Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: piang² / pin²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰiaŋ²⁴/, /pʰin²⁴/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: phiàng / phìn
  - Hakka Romanization System: piangˇ / pinˇ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: piang² / pin²
  - Sinological IPA: /pʰi̯aŋ¹¹/, /pʰin¹¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: pin² / piang²
  - Sinological IPA: /pʰin¹¹/, /pʰiaŋ¹¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: ping¹
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /pʰxĩŋ¹¹/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: běng / bia̿ng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /peiŋ²¹/, /piaŋ³³/

Note: bia̿ng - colloquial.

Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: bàng / bìng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /paŋ⁵³/, /piŋ⁵³/

Note:

bàng - colloquial;
bìng - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Lukang, Sanxia, Taipei, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pîⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: pînn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: pvii
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Lukang, Taipei, Kinmen): /pĩ²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Yilan, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pêⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: pênn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: pvee
  - IPA (Yilan, Tainan): /pẽ²⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /pɛ̃¹³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /pẽ²³/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: piâⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: piânn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: pviaa
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /piã¹³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /piã²⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /piã²³/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pêng
  - Tâi-lô: pîng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: peeng
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /piɪŋ²³/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /piɪŋ¹³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /piɪŋ²⁴/

Note: pîⁿ/pêⁿ, piâⁿ - vernacular, pêng - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: bên⁵ / pêng⁵
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: pêⁿ / phêng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pẽ⁵⁵/, /pʰeŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

bên5 - vernacular;
pêng5 - literary.

Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: bin (T3)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /b̥ɪɲ²³/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: bin²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pin¹³/

Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 平
Mandarin	Beijing	/pʰiŋ³⁵/
	Harbin	/pʰiŋ²⁴/
	Tianjin	/pʰiŋ⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/pʰiŋ⁴²/
	Qingdao	/pʰiŋ⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/pʰiŋ⁴²/
	Xi'an	/pʰiŋ²⁴/
	Xining	/pʰiə̃²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/pʰiŋ⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/pʰĩn⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/pʰiŋ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/pʰin²¹³/
	Chengdu	/pʰin³¹/
	Guiyang	/pʰin²¹/
	Kunming	/pʰĩ⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/pʰin²⁴/
	Hefei	/pʰin⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/pʰiəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/pʰiŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/pʰĩŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/biŋ²³/
	Suzhou	/bin¹³/
	Hangzhou	/bin²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/beŋ³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/pʰiʌ̃⁴⁴/
Hui	Tunxi	/pʰɛ⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/pin¹³/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/bin¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/pʰiɑŋ²⁴/ /pʰin²⁴/ ～時
Hakka	Meixian	/pʰin¹¹/ 和～ /pʰiaŋ¹¹/ 唔～
Hakka	Taoyuan	/pʰiɑŋ¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/pʰeŋ²¹/
	Nanning	/pʰeŋ²¹/
	Hong Kong	/pʰiŋ²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/piŋ³⁵/ /pĩ³⁵/ ～～路
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/piŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/peiŋ²¹/ 太～ /piaŋ³³/ ～均
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/pʰeŋ⁵⁵/ /pẽ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/feŋ³¹/ /ʔbɛ³¹/

Middle Chinese: /bˠiæŋ/

Rime
Character	平
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	並 (3)
Final (韻)	庚 (111)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	符兵切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/bˠiæŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/bᵚiaŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/biaŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/biajŋ/
Li Rong	/biɐŋ/
Wang Li	/bĭɐŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/bʱi̯ɐŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	píng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ping⁴

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*breŋ/, /*m-breŋ/
(Zhengzhang): /*beŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	平	平
Reading #	2/3	3/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	píng	píng
Middle Chinese	‹ bjæng ›	‹ bjæng ›
Old Chinese	/*breŋ/	/*m-breŋ/
English	even (adj.)	make even
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	平
Reading #	2/2
No.	9818
Phonetic component	平
Rime group	耕
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	平
Old Chinese	/*beŋ/

Definitions

平

level; even; flat
平放 ― píng fàng ― to put horizontally
平原 ― píngyuán ― plain
馬路很平。／马路很平。 ― Mǎlù hěn píng. ― The road is very flat.
equal; fair
平分 ― píngfēn ― to divide evenly
持平 ― chípíng ― impartial
Synonym: 均 (jūn)
equal
平輩／平辈 ― píngbèi ― same generation
平起平坐 ― píngqǐpíngzuò ― to be on an equal footing
平了世界紀錄／平了世界纪录 ― píng le shìjiè jìlù ― equalled a world record
雙方打成五平。／双方打成五平。 ― Shuāngfāng dǎ chéng wǔ píng. ― They reached 5-5.
to level; to make level
calm; peaceful
太平 ― tàipíng ― peaceful and tranquil
風平浪靜／风平浪静 ― fēngpínglàngjìng ― to have no waves
心平氣和／心平气和 ― xīnpíngqìhé ― even-tempered and good-humoured
- 國治而後天下平。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  国治而后天下平。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE
  Guó zhì érhòu tiānxià píng. [Pinyin]
  Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.
Synonyms: 穩／稳 (wěn), 靜／静 (jìng)
to calm down; to make peaceful; to quiet down
平民憤／平民愤 ― píng mínfèn ― to assuage popular indignation
你先平平氣！／你先平平气！ ― Nǐ xiān píng píng qì! ― Just calm down a bit first!
to pacify
平叛 ― píngpàn ― to suppress a rebellion
- 喪亂既平，既安且寧。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  丧乱既平，既安且宁。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on Bernhard Karlgren's version
  Sāngluàn jì píng, jì ān qiě níng. [Pinyin]
  When death and disorder has been settled, there is calm and peace.
ordinary; common; mediocre; average
平日 ― píngrì ― normal days
平凡 ― píngfán ― ordinary
平民 ― píngmín ― civilian
Synonyms: 常 (cháng), 庸 (yōng)
Antonyms: 奇 (qí), 特 (tè)
(Chinese phonetics) level tone (one of the four tones in Middle Chinese)
平上去入 ― píngshǎngqùrù ― the four tones of Middle Chinese: level, rising, departing and checked
陽平／阳平 ― yángpíng ― light level tone
(Cantonese, Hakka) cheap; inexpensive
平機票／平机票 [Cantonese] ― peng⁴ gei¹ piu³ [Jyutping] ― cheap air tickets
平啲得唔得呀？ [Cantonese, trad. and simp.]
peng⁴ di¹ dak¹ m⁴ dak¹ aa³? [Jyutping]
Can it be cheaper?
(Min Nan, Hakka) the same
伊佮我平懸。／伊佮我平悬。 [Teochew] ― i¹ gah⁴ ua² bên⁵ guin⁵. [Peng'im] ― He is as tall as me.
(historical) Short for 北平 (Běipíng).
平津戰役／平津战役 ― Píng Jīn zhànyì ― Pingjin campaign
Short for 平方米 (píngfāngmǐ, “square metre”). Used with numbers without classifiers.
a surname, number 95 of the Baijiaxing

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 便宜 (“cheap”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		便宜, 低廉, 低賤
Mandarin	Beijing	便宜, 賤
	Taiwan	便宜
	Harbin	便宜, 賤
	Yantai (Muping)	便宜, 賤
	Jinan	便宜, 賤
	Luoyang	便宜, 賤
	Wanrong	便宜, 賤
	Xi'an	便宜, 賤
	Yinchuan	便宜
	Lanzhou	便宜
	Xining	便宜
	Ürümqi	便宜
	Wuhan	便宜, 相因
	Chengdu	相因, 便宜
	Guiyang	相因
	Liuzhou	便宜
	Xuzhou	便宜, 賤
	Yangzhou	便宜, 划廉
	Nanjing	便宜
	Hefei	巧, 便宜
	Nantong	便宜
	Malaysia	便宜
	Singapore	便宜
Cantonese	Guangzhou	平
	Hong Kong	平
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	平
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	平
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	平
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	平
	Macau	平
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	平
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	平
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	平
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	平
	Foshan	平
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	平
	Foshan (Shunde)	平
	Foshan (Sanshui)	平
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	便宜, 平
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	平
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	平
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	平
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	平
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	平
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	平
	Taishan	平
	Kaiping (Chikan)	平
	Enping (Niujiang)	平
	Heshan (Yayao)	平
	Dongguan	平
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	平
	Qingyuan	平
	Fogang	平
	Yingde (Hanguang)	平
	Yangshan	平, 便宜
	Lianshan (Butian)	平
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	平宜
	Shaoguan	平
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	平
	Renhua	平, 抵得
	Lechang	平
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	平
	Sihui	平
	Guangning	平枯
	Deqing	平
	Huaiji	平
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	平
	Yunfu	平
	Xinxing	平
	Luoding	平
	Yunan (Pingtai)	平
	Yangjiang	平, 平宜
	Nanning	平
	Yulin	平
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	平
	Singapore (Guangfu)	平
Gan	Nanchang	便宜
	Lichuan	便宜
	Pingxiang	便宜
Hakka	Meixian	便宜, 平
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	便宜, 平
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	平
	Boluo (Bendihua)	平, 便宜
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	平
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	平
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	平
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	便宜
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	便宜, 平
	Wuhua (Changbu)	平
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	便宜
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	平, 便宜
	Longchuan (Tuocheng Bendihua)	平, 便宜
	Heping (Linzhai Bendihua)	便宜
	Lianping (Longjie Bendihua)	平, 便宜
	Conghua (Lütian)	便宜
	Jiexi	便宜
	Yudu	便宜
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	便宜
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	便宜
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	便宜
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	便宜
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	便宜
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	便宜
	Hong Kong	平
	Sabah (Longchuan)	便宜
	Senai (Huiyang)	便宜
	Singkawang	便宜
Huizhou	Jixi	便宜
Jin	Taiyuan	便宜, 賤
Jin	Xinzhou	便宜, 賤
Min Bei	Jian'ou	便宜
Min Dong	Fuzhou	便宜, 賤
Min Dong	Matsu	便宜
Min Nan	Xiamen	俗, 便宜
	Quanzhou	俗, 便宜
	Zhangzhou	俗, 便宜
	Taipei	俗
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	俗
	Kaohsiung	俗
	Yilan	俗, 便宜
	Changhua (Lukang)	俗
	Taichung	俗
	Taichung (Wuqi)	俗
	Tainan	俗
	Taitung	俗
	Hsinchu	俗
	Kinmen	俗
	Penghu (Magong)	俗, 便宜
	Penang (Hokkien)	便宜
	Singapore (Hokkien)	偏
	Manila (Hokkien)	俗
	Chaozhou	便
	Shantou	便
	Jieyang	便
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	便
	Singapore (Teochew)	便
	Wenchang	便宜
	Haikou	便宜
	Qionghai	便宜
	Singapore (Hainanese)	便宜
Puxian Min	Putian	相因
Puxian Min	Xianyou	相因
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	平
Zhongshan Min	Sanxiang	平
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	平
Wu	Shanghai	便宜, 𠼢
	Shanghai (Chongming)	便宜, 𠼢
	Suzhou	便宜, 𠼢
	Danyang	便宜, 賤
	Hangzhou	便宜, 賤
	Ningbo	便宜
	Wenzhou	鬆, 便宜
	Jinhua	便宜, 賤
Xiang	Changsha	便宜
	Loudi	便宜
	Shuangfeng	便宜, 賤

Compounds

Derived terms from 平

一波未平，一波又起
一碗水往平處端／一碗水往平处端
一馬平川／一马平川
三平二滿／三平二满
三通一平
下平
不平
不平之氣／不平之气
不平之鳴／不平之鸣
不平則鳴／不平则鸣
不平等待遇
不平等條約／不平等条约
不平而鳴／不平而鸣
不登高山，不顯平地／不登高山，不显平地
亂極則平／乱极则平
二滿三平／二满三平
低平
依流平進／依流平进
公平
削平
剷平／铲平
北平
北平故宮／北平故宫
升平
南平
南平
吃太平飯／吃太平饭
向平之願／向平之愿
君平
和平
嘉平
四平八穩／四平八稳
土平
地平天成
地平線／地平线
坦平
填平
天平
太平
太平公主
太平店
太平溪
夷平
夷為平地／夷为平地
如履平地
子平
安平
安平古堡
安平港
尸鳩之平／尸鸠之平
市平
平一
平上去入
平下氣／平下气
平不答的
平世
平亂／平乱
平交
平人
平仄
平伏
平伸
平作
平信
平假名
平價／平价
平允
平光
平凡
平分
平列
平劇／平剧
平動／平动
平勻／平匀
平半
平南
平原
平反
平叛
平台
平和
平善
平圓／平圆
平土機／平土机
平地
平均
平坦
平埔
平壤
平天下
平天冠
平天大帝
平夷
平妖傳／平妖传
平妥
平安
平定
平家物語／平家物语
平寇
平實／平实
平寧／平宁
平射
平局
平居
平屋
平展
平山冷燕
平山堂
平川
平帖
平常

平平
平年
平底
平康
平庸
平復／平复
平心
平快車／平快车
平息
平房
平手
平抑
平抬
平撇
平撫／平抚
平擊球／平击球
平攤／平摊
平放
平政院
平整
平文
平方
平日
平旦
平明
平易
平昔
平星
平時／平时
平曉／平晓
平曠／平旷
平月
平服
平板
平林
平梁
平楚
平槽
平樂／平乐
平橋／平桥
平權／平权
平正
平步青雲／平步青云
平毀／平毁
平民
平水
平沙落雁
平河
平治
平沽
平泉莊／平泉庄
平泛
平津
平流
平淡
平添
平準／平准
平溪
平滑
平漢鐵路／平汉铁路
平潭
平爐／平炉
平版
平王
平生
平畫求長／平画求长
平疇／平畴
平白
平皋
平直
平秩
平移
平穩／平稳
平空
平章
平等
平米
平糴／平籴
平糶／平粜
平紋／平纹
平素
平絨／平绒
平綏鐵路／平绥铁路
平緩／平缓
平羅／平罗
平聲／平声
平胡
平胸
平脈／平脉
平臥／平卧
平臺／平台
平色
平莽
平落
平蕪／平芜
平行
平衍
平衡
平表
平補／平补
平裝／平装
平西
平視／平视
平角
平話／平话
平調／平调
平議／平议
平起平坐
平足
平跟

平路
平蹉
平身
平躺
平車／平车
平輩／平辈
平通
平遙／平遥
平郵／平邮
平野
平量
平金
平釘／平钉
平針縫／平针缝
平鉋／平刨
平鋪／平铺
平鋪直敘／平铺直叙
平鎮／平镇
平闊／平阔
平阜
平陸／平陆
平陽／平阳
平隴望蜀／平陇望蜀
平雕
平靖
平靜／平静
平面
平韻／平韵
平頂／平顶
平順／平顺
平頭／平头
平風靜浪／平风静浪
平飛球／平飞球
平魚／平鱼
庫平／库平
延平
延平郡王
弭平
心和氣平／心和气平
心平氣和／心平气和
心平氣定／心平气定
心平靜氣／心平静气
性平
恩平
悉平
扁平
打太平拳
打平
扯平
找平
承平
抹平
拉平
持平
掃平／扫平
揃平
摩平
撫平／抚平
擺平／摆平
攤平／摊平
放平
敉平
昇平／升平
昌平
氣憤難平／气愤难平
水平
治平
泰平
泰階平／泰阶平
海平階／海平阶
清平
漢語水平考試／汉语水平考试
熹平
牟平
瑞平
生平
生態平衡／生态平衡
真平
短平快
砥平繩直／砥平绳直
磨平
秤平斗滿／秤平斗满
興平／兴平
茌平
萬丈高樓平地起／万丈高楼平地起
蕩平／荡平
衡平
角平分線／角平分线
討平／讨平
詳平／详平
跌四平
踏平
躧平／𰸐平
躺平
逆入平出
透平機／透平机
鋪平／铺平
鏟平／铲平
長平之戰／长平之战
開平／开平
開平盤／开平盘
關平／关平
陰平／阴平
陳平分肉／陈平分肉
陽平／阳平
風平波息／风平波息
風平浪靜／风平浪静
風靜浪平／风静浪平
饒平／饶平
高平

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (平):

→ Japanese: 平(へい) (hei)
→ Korean: 평(平) (pyeong)
→ Vietnamese: bình (平)

Others:

→ Iu Mien: baengh (“level”)
→ Proto-Palaungic: *-pre/iŋ (“equal, level”) (Sidwell, 2015)
→ Proto-Tai: *biangᴬ (“flat, even”)
- Lao: ພຽງ (phīang, “flat, even, equal”)
- Lü: ᦵᦗᧂ (peng, “flat, even, equal”)
- Northern Thai: ᨻ᩠ᨿᨦ (“flat, even, equal”)
- Shan: ပဵင်း (páeng, “flat, even, equal”)
- Thai: เพียง (piiang, “equal, as, only, just”)

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): pián (pian²)
(Zhuyin): ㄆㄧㄢˊ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: pián
  - Zhuyin: ㄆㄧㄢˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: pián
  - Wade–Giles: pʻien²
  - Yale: pyán
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: pyan
  - Palladius: пянь (pjanʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰjɛn³⁵/

Middle Chinese: /biᴇn/

Rime
Character	平
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	並 (3)
Final (韻)	仙 (77)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	房連切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/biᴇn/
Pan Wuyun	/biɛn/
Shao Rongfen	/bjæn/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/bian/
Li Rong	/biɛn/
Wang Li	/bĭɛn/
Bernard Karlgren	/bʱi̯ɛn/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	pián
Expected Cantonese Reflex	pin⁴

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*[b]en/
(Zhengzhang): /*ben/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	平
Reading #	1/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	pián
Middle Chinese	‹ bjien ›
Old Chinese	/*[b]en/
English	distinguish; punctiious
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	平
Reading #	1/2
No.	9812
Phonetic component	平
Rime group	元
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	便
Old Chinese	/*ben/

Definitions

平

Alternative form of 辨 (biàn).

Pronunciation 3

Mandarin
(Pinyin): bìng (bing⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄅㄧㄥˋ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: bìng
  - Zhuyin: ㄅㄧㄥˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: bìng
  - Wade–Giles: ping⁴
  - Yale: bìng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: binq
  - Palladius: бин (bin)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /piŋ⁵¹/

Definitions

平

(obsolete) to control prices

Pronunciation 4

For pronunciation and definitions of 平 – see 抨 (“to shoot with a catapult; to pat; to beat; etc.”). (This character, 平, is a variant form of 抨.)

References

“平”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學／香港中文大学 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A01192

Japanese

Shinjitai	平
Kyūjitai [1][2]	平󠄁 平+`󠄁`^? (Adobe-Japan1)
	平󠄃 平+`󠄃`^? (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho)
The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment. See here for details.

Kanji

平

(grade 3 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

From Middle Chinese 平 (MC bˠiæŋ):

Go-on: びょう (byō, Jōyō)^{←びやう (byau, historical)}
Kan-on: へい (hei, Jōyō)
Tō-on: ひん (hin)
Kan’yō-on: ひょう (hyō)^{←ひやう (fyau, historical)}

From Middle Chinese 平 (MC biᴇn), as an alternative form for 弁:

Go-on: べん (ben)
Kan-on: へん (hen)

From native Japanese roots:

Kun: たいら (taira, 平ら, Jōyō)^{←たひら (tafira, historical)}; たいら (taira, 平); たいらか (tairaka, 平らか); たいらぐ (tairagu, 平らぐ); たいらげる (tairageru, 平らげる); ひら (hira, 平, Jōyō); ひらに (hirani, 平に)
Nanori: おさむ (osamu); さね (sane); たいら (taira); たか (taka); つね (tsune); とし (toshi); なり (nari); なる (naru); はかる (hakaru); ひとし (hitoshi); まさる (masaru); もち (mochi); よし (yoshi)

Compounds

平(ピン)和(フ) (pinfu)
難(なん)平(ぴん) (nanpin)
半平(はんぺん) (hanpen)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
平
ひら Grade: 3
kun’yomi

⟨pi₁ra⟩ → /pʲira/ → /ɸira/ → /hira/

Stem of adjective 平たい (hiratai). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

Kun’yomi

(Tokyo) ひら [híꜜrà] (Atamadaka – [1])[3]
IPA^(key): [çiɾa̠]

Noun

平(ひら) • (hira)

something flat; flattened
something ordinary, common, mediocre
a person of low-ranking status
1. a freshman
2. a novice
3. a private
the top ridge of a roof parallel to the side of a building (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
Short for 平織 (hiraori, “plain weave”).
in bookbinding, the flat part of a cover (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
Short for 平椀 (hirawan).

Derived terms

枚(ひら) (hira)
平(ひら)泳(およ)ぎ (hiraoyogi)
平(ひら)仮名(がな) (hiragana)
平(ひら)日(び) (hirabi)

Prefix

平(ひら) • (hira-)

single-minded (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
connects to a noun

Proper noun

平(ひら) • (Hira)

a female given name
a surname

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
平
たいら Grade: 3
kun’yomi

⟨tapi₁ra⟩ → /tapʲira/ → /taɸira/ → /tawira/ → /taira/

Nominalization of adjective 平ら (taira, “flat, level”).

Noun

平(たいら) • (taira) ^{←たひら (tafira)^?}

a plain, flat (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)

Proper noun

平(たいら) • (Taira) ^{←たひら (tafira)^?}

a surname, especially of those descended from imperial lineage ineligible for the Chrysanthemum Throne:
1. the 桓武平氏 (Kanmu Heishi), from Emperor Kanmu
2. the 仁明平氏 (Ninmyō Heishi), from Emperor Ninmyō
3. the 文徳平氏 (Montoku Heishi), from Emperor Montoku, and
4. the 光孝平氏 (Kōkō Heishi), from Emperor Kōkō
a placename, especially in Iwaki city, Fukushima Prefecture
a male given name

Derived terms

松(まつ)平(だいら) (Matsudaira)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
平
へい Grade: 3
kan’on

From Middle Chinese 平 (MC bˠiæŋ).

The 漢音 (kan'on, literally “Han sound”) reading, so likely a later borrowing from Middle Chinese.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) へー [héꜜè] (Atamadaka – [1])[3]
IPA^(key): [he̞ː]

Noun

平(へい) • (hei)

something neither high nor low
something calm

Affix

平(へい) • (hei)

even, flat, level
flatten, level
uniform
calm, gentle, peaceful
common, ordinary, usual
Short for 平氏 (Heishi) or 平家 (Heike): Taira clan
(mathematics) square, square root

Derived terms

平(へい)均(きん) (heikin)
平(へい)日(じつ) (heijitsu)
平(へい)凡(ぼん) (heibon)
平(へい)野(や) (heiya)
平(へい)和(わ) (heiwa)
源(げん)平(ぺい) (Genpei)

Proper noun

平(へい) • (Hei)

a surname

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
平
ひょう Grade: 3
kan’yōon

/pʲau/ → /ɸʲɔː/ → /hʲoː/

Possibly from Middle Chinese 平 (MC bˠiæŋ).

The 慣用音 (kan'yōon, literally “commonly accepted sound”) reading, a pronunciation in common usage based on a corruption of the Middle Chinese borrowing.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ひょー [hyóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])[3]
IPA^(key): [ço̞ː]

Noun

平(ひょう) • (hyō) ^{←ひやう (fyau)^?}

Short for 平韻 (hyōin): This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
Short for 平調 (hyōjō): This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Affix

平(ひょう) • (hyō) ^{←ひやう (fyau)^?}

Short for 平声 (hyōshō): the level tone in Middle Chinese

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
平
びょう Grade: 3
goon

/bʲau/ → /bʲɔː/ → /bʲoː/

From Middle Chinese 平 (MC bˠiæŋ).

The 呉音 (goon, literally “Wu sound”) reading, so likely the earlier borrowing from Middle Chinese.

Affix

平(びょう) • (byō) ^{←びやう (byau)^?}

impartial, unbiased

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
平
Grade: 3
nanori

Nominalization of classical verb おさむ (osamu), modern おさめる (osameru, multiple definitions in kanji).

Proper noun

平(おさむ) • (Osamu) ^{←をさむ (wosamu)^?}

a surname
a male given name (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)

Etymology 7

Kanji in this term
平
Grade: 3
nanori

Nominalization of classical adjective 等し (hitoshi), modern 等しい (hitoshii, “equal, same”).

Proper noun

平(ひとし) • (Hitoshi)

a surname
a male given name

Etymology 8

Kanji in this term
平
Grade: 3
nanori

Nominalization of classical adjective 広し (hiroshi), modern 広い (hiroi, “vast, wide”).

Proper noun

平(ひろし) • (Hiroshi)

a male given name

Etymology 9

Kanji in this term
平
Grade: 3
nanori

Nominalization of classical adjective 安し (yasushi), modern 安い (yasui, “peaceful, quiet”).

Proper noun

平(やすし) • (Yasushi)

a male given name (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)

Etymology 10

Kanji in this term
平
Grade: 3
nanori

Nominalization of classical adjective 良し (yoshi), modern 良い (yoi, “good, fine”).

Proper noun

平(よし) • (Yoshi)

a surname

References

“平”, in 漢字ぺディア (Kanjipedia)‎ (in Japanese), 日本漢字能力検定協会, 2015—2023
1914, 漢和大辭書 (Kanwa Dai Jisho, “The Great Kanji-Japanese Dictionary”) (in Japanese), page 772 (paper), page 436 (digital), Tōkyō: 興文社 (Kōbunsha)
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

Hanja

平 (eumhun 평평할 평 (pyeongpyeonghal pyeong))

Hanja form^? of 평 (“to be flat, level, plane”).

Derived terms

평범 (平凡, pyeongbeom)
평화 (平和, pyeonghwa)
평양 (平壤, pyeong'yang)
평야 (平野, pyeong'ya)

Vietnamese

Han character

平: Hán Việt readings: bình[1][2][3][4][5], biền[5]
平: Nôm readings: bình[1][2], bằng[1][2], bừng[1], bường[2]

chữ Hán form of bình (“level, flat, peaceful (in compounds)”).

Compounds

Derived terms

平安 (bình an/bình yên, “peaceful, tranquil”)
平定 (Bình Định)
平定 (bình định, “subjugation, pacification”)
平明 (bình minh, “daybreak”)
平常 (bình thường, “normal”)
平平 (biền biền)
高平 (Cao Bằng)

References

Nguyễn (2014).
Trần (2004).
Trần (1999).
Nguyễn (1974).
Thiều Chửu (1942).

[1] “平”, in 漢字ぺディア (Kanjipedia)‎ (in Japanese), 日本漢字能力検定協会, 2015—2023

[2] 1914, 漢和大辭書 (Kanwa Dai Jisho, “The Great Kanji-Japanese Dictionary”) (in Japanese), page 772 (paper), page 436 (digital), Tōkyō: 興文社 (Kōbunsha)

[DJR-3] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[tdcndg-4] Nguyễn (2014).

[gdhn-5] Trần (2004).

[tvctdhv-6] Trần (1999).

[hvttd-7] Nguyễn (1974).

[tchvtd-8] Thiều Chửu (1942).

平

Translingual

Han character

Derived characters

Further reading

Chinese

Glyph origin

Etymology

Pronunciation 1

Definitions

Synonyms

See also

Compounds

Descendants

Pronunciation 2

Definitions

Pronunciation 3

Definitions

Pronunciation 4

References

Japanese

Kanji

Readings

Compounds

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Prefix

Proper noun

Etymology 2

Noun

Proper noun

Derived terms

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

Noun

Affix

Derived terms

Proper noun

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Noun

Affix

Etymology 5

Affix

Etymology 6

Proper noun

Etymology 7

Proper noun

Etymology 8

Proper noun

Etymology 9

Proper noun

Etymology 10

Proper noun

References

Korean

Hanja

Derived terms

Vietnamese

Han character

Compounds

References