打平 (dǎ píng) — (sports) to tie, to draw; (business) to break even

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to tie / to draw' (sports) or 'to break even' (business, finances). It is the everyday term — also heard as 打成平手 in more formal sports reporting.

verb
(sports) to tieto draw(business) to break even

Examples

  • 打平。
    Zhè chǎng bǐ sài liǎng duì dǎ píng le.
    This match ended in a tie between the two teams.
  • 打平。
    Wǒ men gōng sī jīn nián zhōng yú dǎ píng le.
    Our company finally broke even this year.
  • ，打平。
    Zuì hòu bǐ fēn shì èr bǐ èr, shuāng fāng dǎ píng.
    The final score was 2-2, a draw for both sides.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

打dǎhit
平pínglevel

打 (hit) and 平 (level) combine: making scores level, hence a tie or break-even.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

Open 平 →

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