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平白 (píng bái) — for no reason; gratuitously

Definition

Adverb meaning 'for no reason / gratuitously', typically describing an unfair action or baseless judgment. Pairs with verbs like 怀疑, 挨骂, 得到. Not for temporal or sequential contexts.

adverb
for no reasongratuitously

Examples

  • 平白，。
    Tā píng bái āi le yí dùn mà, xīn lǐ hěn bù shū fu.
    He was scolded for no reason and felt very upset.
  • 平白，。
    Méi rén huì píng bái gěi nǐ qián, nǐ dé kào zì jǐ nǔ lì.
    No one will give you money for no reason; you have to rely on your own efforts.
  • 平白，。
    Bié píng bái huái yí bié rén, yào yǒu zhèng jù cái xíng.
    Don't suspect others gratuitously; you need evidence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

平píngwithout reason
白báiwithout reason

平 and 白 both convey 'without cause', so the pair means 'for no reason'.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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