平ら

• Reading: たいら
• Romaji: taira
• Kanji breakdown: 平 (hei/tai) — flat, even, peaceful
• Pronunciation: /ta.i.ɾa/

Meaning

Flat; level; smooth. Describes a surface without bumps, slopes, or irregularities.

A na-adjective describing physical flatness: 平らな道 (a flat road), 平らな場所 (a level spot). Also used metaphorically: 気持ちを平らにする (to calm one's feelings). In cooking, 平らにならす means to spread evenly. Distinguished from 平たい (hirattai), which emphasises thin flatness.

Examples

1. テントを張るには平らな場所が必要だ。 You need a flat spot to pitch a tent.
2. クリームを平らに塗ってください。 Please spread the cream evenly.
3. この辺りは平らな土地が広がっている。 Flat terrain stretches out all around this area.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, cooking, construction

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

From the kanji 平 (hei/tai, flat/even), one of the most ancient characters depicting a balanced, level surface. The ら suffix forms an adjectival noun.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal