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. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "坪" is a phono-semantic compound, combining the earth radical "土" on the left to indicate its semantic field related to land, with the component "平" on the right, which primarily provides phonetic guidance but also contributes the meaning of "flat" or "level". This structure clearly points to its original and enduring definition as a unit of flat, even ground, such as a clearing or a level area of earth. Over time, this concrete concept of a measured, flat space was systematically applied in Japan to become a standardized unit of area, equivalent to two tatami mats, a meaning it retains today alongside its more general topographical sense.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

上有很多花。

Cǎo píng shàng yǒu hěn duō huā.

There are many flowers on the lawn.

孩子们在草上玩。

Hái zi men zài cǎo píng shàng wán.

The children are playing on the lawn.

机场有大型停机

Jī chǎng yǒu dà xíng tíng jī píng.

The airport has a large apron.

这片地很平坦。

Zhè piàn píng dì hěn píng tǎn.

This piece of flat land is very level.

我们学校有一个大草

Wǒ men xué xiào yǒu yī gè dà cǎo píng.

Our school has a large lawn.

停机上停着几架直升机。

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

There are several helicopters parked on the helipad.

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.