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平平 (píng píng) — average, mediocre, so-so

Definition

平平 (píngping) is a bound reduplicated form used as an adjective meaning 'average, so-so' — almost always followed by a complement like 的 or 无奇. Often used pejoratively to imply mediocrity rather than neutral adequacy.

bound form
averagemediocreso-so

Examples

  • 平平，。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì de chéng jì zhǐ shì píng píng, bú suàn hǎo yě bú suàn chà.
    The exam results were just average, neither good nor bad.
  • 平平，。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng de jù qíng hěn píng píng, méi yǒu shén me jīng xǐ.
    The plot of this movie is very mediocre, there's no surprise.
  • 平平，。
    Tā de biǎo xiàn yì zhí píng píng, méi yǒu tè bié tū chū de dì fāng.
    His performance has always been average, nothing particularly outstanding.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

平píngaverage
平píngaverage

平 means average or level; the two 平 together give a mild, so-so sense.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 →
Appears in
Good & Bad

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