平等

• Pinyin: píng děng
• Hanzi breakdown: 平 (píng) — flat, even; 等 (děng) = 竹 (bamboo) + 寺 (temple), originally meaning class or rank

Meaning

Equal; equality. Describes a state where people have the same rights, status, or treatment.

Used to describe fairness and equal treatment between people or groups. Common in discussions about social justice, rights, and interpersonal relationships. Often appears in phrases like 人人平等 (everyone is equal) and 男女平等 (gender equality).

Examples

1. 每个人都应该被平等对待。 Everyone should be treated equally.
2. 老师对学生要平等。 Teachers should be fair to students.
3. 男女平等是很重要的。 Gender equality is very important.

Usage Guide

Context: social discussion, rights, education

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我们应该平等对待每一个人。(We should treat everyone equally.)
• 孩子们在学校里是平等的。(Children are equal at school.)

Don't Say

• 不要用平等来说两个东西一样 (Don't use 平等 to say two things are the same — 平等 specifically means equal in rights or status; use 一样 or 相同 for general sameness)

Origin & History

平 (píng, level/even) + 等 (děng, equal/class). Both characters relate to evenness, reinforcing the meaning of equality.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal