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 "to tie"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to tie", including 平 (píng), 结 (jiē / jié), 扎 (zhā / zā / zhá), 绑 (bǎng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to tie" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 平 (píng), 结 (jiē / jié), 扎 (zhā / zā / zhá), 绑 (bǎng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span píng, jiē, jié, zhā, zā, zhá, and more — 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
- 结 jiē / jiéknot; sturdy; to bear (fruit); bond; to tie; to bindUseful words: 结果, 结束
- 扎 zhā / zā / zháto tie; to bind; tie with string or ribbon; bind with rope or cord; to stop; to prickUseful words: 挣扎, 驻扎
- 绑 bǎngto tie; bind or fasten togetherUseful words: 绑架, 捆绑
Common words for these 4 "to tie" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 平 (píng) — so "to tie" 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结果jiē guǒto bear fruit结束jié shùtermination; to finish; to end; to conclude结婚jié hūnto marry; to get married挣扎zhēng zháto struggle驻扎zhù zhāto station; to garrison (troops)扎实zhā shistrong; solid; sturdy; firm绑架bǎng jiàto kidnap; to abduct; to hijack; a kidnapping
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 "to tie".
结 jiē / jié — knot; sturdy; to bear (fruit); bond; to tie; to bind
这本小说的结尾很感人。Zhè běn xiǎo shuō de jié wěi hěn gǎn rén.The ending of this novel is very touching.
Common words: 结果 (jiē guǒ)、结束 (jié shù)、结婚 (jié hūn)
扎 zhā / zā / zhá — to tie; to bind; tie with string or ribbon; bind with rope or cord; to stop; to prick
不小心被针扎了一下，手指有点儿疼。Bù xiǎo xīn bèi zhēn zhā le yí xià, shǒu zhǐ yǒu diǎnr téng.I accidentally got pricked by a needle, and my finger hurts a bit.
Common words: 挣扎 (zhēng zhá)、驻扎 (zhù zhā)、扎实 (zhā shi)
绑 bǎng — to tie; bind or fasten together
他用绳子把报纸捆绑了起来。Tā yòng shéng zi bǎ bào zhǐ kǔn bǎng le qǐ lái.He tied up the newspapers with a rope.
Common words: 绑架 (bǎng jià)、捆绑 (kǔn bǎng)、松绑 (sōng bǎng)
All 4 characters
Open 平、结、扎 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.