平 píng — flat; level; equal; to make the same score; to tie; to draw
这条路又宽又平。Zhè tiáo lù yòu kuān yòu píng.This road is wide and flat.
Common words: 水平 (shuǐ píng)、公平 (gōng píng)、平时 (píng shí)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "flat"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "flat", including 平 (píng), 坦 (tǎn), 扁 (biǎn / piān). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "flat" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 平 (píng), 坦 (tǎn), 扁 (biǎn / piān) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span píng, tǎn, biǎn, piān — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 平 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 平 píngflat; level; equal; to make the same score; to tie; to drawUseful words: 水平, 公平
- 坦 tǎnflat; open-hearted; level; smoothUseful words: 坦率, 平坦
- 扁 biǎn / piānflat; tablet; inscription; (surname); small boat; Polygonum aviculareUseful words: 看扁, 海扁
Common words for these 3 "flat" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 平 (píng) — so "flat" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
水平shuǐ pínghorizontal; level; a standard; a level (of ability, development etc)公平gōng píngfair; impartial平时píng shíordinarily; in normal times; in peacetime坦率tǎn shuàifrank; candid; straightforward平坦píng tǎnlevel; even; smooth; flat坦白tǎn báihonest; forthcoming; to confess看扁kàn biǎnto have a low opinion of海扁hǎi biǎn(slang) to beat sb up扁平biǎn píngflat; planar
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "flat".
坦 tǎn — flat; open-hearted; level; smooth
他坦率地说出了自己的想法。Tā tǎn shuài de shuō chū le zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ.He frankly expressed his own thoughts.
Common words: 坦率 (tǎn shuài)、平坦 (píng tǎn)、坦白 (tǎn bái)
扁 biǎn / piān — flat; tablet; inscription; (surname); small boat; Polygonum aviculare
这个气球被压得扁扁的。Zhè ge qì qiú bèi yā de biǎn biǎn de.This balloon was pressed flat.
Common words: 看扁 (kàn biǎn)、海扁 (hǎi biǎn)、扁平 (biǎn píng)
All 3 characters
Open 平、坦、扁 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.