原 yuán — former; original; primary; raw; level; cause
原来你也在这里！Yuán lái nǐ yě zài zhè lǐ!So you are here too!
Common words: 原因 (yuán yīn)、原来 (yuán lái)、原则 (yuán zé)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "level"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "level", including 原 (yuán), 平 (píng), 级 (jí), 坦 (tǎn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "level" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 原 (yuán), 平 (píng), 级 (jí), 坦 (tǎn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yuán, píng, jí, tǎn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 原 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 原 yuánformer; original; primary; raw; level; causeUseful words: 原因, 原来
- 平 píngflat; level; equal; to make the same score; to tie; to drawUseful words: 水平, 公平
- 级 jílevel; grade; rank; stepUseful words: 高级, 年级
- 坦 tǎnflat; open-hearted; level; smoothUseful words: 坦率, 平坦
Common words for these 4 "level" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 原 (yuán) — so "level" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
原因yuán yīncause; origin; root cause; reason原来yuán láioriginal; former; originally; formerly原则yuán zéprinciple; doctrine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高级gāo jíhigh level; high grade; advanced; high-ranking年级nián jígrade; year (in school, college etc)中级zhōng jímiddle level (in a hierarchy)坦率tǎn shuàifrank; candid; straightforward
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 4 ways to say "level".
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)
级 jí — level; grade; rank; step
我妹妹上小学三年级。Wǒ mèi mei shàng xiǎo xué sān nián jí.My younger sister is in the third grade of primary school.
Common words: 高级 (gāo jí)、年级 (nián jí)、中级 (zhōng jí)
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)
All 4 characters
Open 原、平、级 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.