坪

píng

土 + 平

Definitions

píng (noun) unit of area equal to 3.3058 square meters (used in Japan and Taiwan)

píng (noun) plain; flat ground

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 平 represents the sound.

Semantic: 土 Phonetic: 平

About

坪 is a phonosemantic compound: the earth radical 土 indicates the meaning of land or terrain, while 平 (píng) provides the pronunciation. The character refers to a flat piece of ground, a level open space, or a small plain, often found in mountainous or hilly areas. In modern usage it appears in place names and in terms for designated flat spaces like lawns or paved public squares.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

草坪上有很多花。

Cǎo píng shàng yǒu hěn duō huā.

There are many flowers on the lawn.

孩子们在草坪上玩。

Hái zi men zài cǎo píng shàng wán.

The children are playing on the lawn.

机场有大型停机坪。

Jī chǎng yǒu dà xíng tíng jī píng.

The airport has a large apron.

这片坪地很平坦。

Zhè piàn píng dì hěn píng tǎn.

This piece of flat land is very level.

我们学校有一个大草坪。

Wǒ men xué xiào yǒu yī gè dà cǎo píng.

Our school has a large lawn.

停机坪上停着几架直升机。

Tíng jī píng shàng tíng zhe jǐ jià zhí shēng jī.

There are several helicopters parked on the helipad.

草坪的维护需要定期浇水。

Cǎo píng de wéi hù xū yào dìng qī jiāo shuǐ.

The maintenance of the lawn requires regular watering.

这块坪坝曾经是村民集会的地方。

Zhè kuài píng bà céng jīng shì cūn mín jí huì de dì fang.

This level ground was once a place for village gatherings.

Related Characters

Component: 土

Component: 平

坪