平
民

About

The word 平民 is formed by combining two characters: 平 (píng), which conveys the idea of "level", "even", or "ordinary", and 民 (mín), which means "the people" or "populace". Conceptually, it merges the notion of a level, non-hierarchical social plane with the general body of people, creating a single term that visually and ideologically represents "the common people" or "civilians" as the flat, broad base of society, distinct from the elevated ranks of nobility, officials, or the military.

Example Sentences Hide

平民的生活很普通。

Píngmín de shēnghuó hěn pǔtōng.

The life of common people is very ordinary.

政府应该关心平民的需求。

Zhèngfǔ yīnggāi guānxīn píngmín de xūqiú.

The government should care about the needs of the common people.

这部电影讲述了平民英雄的故事。

Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshùle píngmín yīngxióng de gùshì.

This movie tells the story of a civilian hero.

在战争中，平民往往是最受苦的群体。

Zài zhànzhēng zhōng, píngmín wǎngwǎng shì zuì shòukǔ de qúntǐ.

In war, civilians are often the group that suffers the most.

尽管科技迅速发展，平民获取信息的渠道依然有限。

Jǐnguǎn kējì xùnsù fāzhǎn, píngmín huòqǔ xìnxī de qúdào yīrán yǒuxiàn.

Despite the rapid development of technology, common people still have limited channels to access information.

Word Definition - 平民

píng mín ordinary people; commoner (contrasted with the privileged); civilian (contrasted with the military)

Individual Character Details

平 píng, píng
民 mín, mín