平静

• Pinyin: píng jìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 平 = a balanced scale — level, even; 静 = 青 (green) + 争 (contend) — stillness after contention

Meaning

Calm; peaceful; tranquil. Describes a state of emotional composure or a quiet, undisturbed environment.

Used for both emotional states (心情平静 — calm mood) and physical environments (平静的湖面 — calm lake surface). Implies a return to or maintenance of calm rather than the poetic serenity of 宁静. Common collocations: 保持平静 (stay calm), 恢复平静 (restore calm), 表面平静 (outwardly calm). Widely used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 听到这个消息后，她表面上很平静。 After hearing the news, she appeared calm on the surface.
2. 暴风雨过后，海面又恢复了平静。 After the storm, the sea returned to calm.
3. 他的心情慢慢平静下来了。 His mood gradually calmed down.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, nature, everyday

Tone: composed

Do Say

• 请大家保持平静，不要紧张。(Everyone please stay calm — don't be nervous.)
• 她用平静的语气回答了所有的问题。(She answered all the questions in a calm tone.)

Don't Say

• 这个人很平静 meaning they are boring (平静 means calm or composed, not dull or boring — use 无聊 for boring)

Origin & History

A compound of 平 (flat/level/even) and 静 (still/quiet) — an even, undisturbed state.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal