平等 (píng děng) — equal (of rights, status, treatment)

Definition

平等 is 'equal' in rights, status, or treatment (e.g. 男女平等). For things being 'the same', use 同样; 同等 stresses equal rank or value.

adjective

equal (of rights, status, treatment)

平等。
Měi gè gōng mín zài fǎ lǜ qián dōu shì píng děng de.
Every citizen is equal before the law.
平等。
Gōng sī yīng dāng tí gōng píng děng de jiù yè jī huì.
The company should provide equal employment opportunities.
平等。
Nán nǚ xiǎng yǒu píng děng de dì wèi.
Men and women enjoy equal status.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

平 (equal) and 等 (equal) both contribute the sense of equality of status or treatment.

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.

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

竹寺等

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

寺

寺sì等děng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 竹 shows bamboo strips used for writing and sorting; the bottom 寺 once gave the sound, but now sounds different.

Appears in