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| 和平 [2025/08/04 19:22] – created xiaoer | 和平 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== hépíng: 和平 - Peace, Harmony ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** heping, 和平, Chinese for peace, world peace in Chinese, harmony in Chinese, what does heping mean, 和平 pinyin, heping meaning, Chinese culture peace, peaceful resolution | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the Chinese word for peace, **和平 (hépíng)**, a term that goes beyond the absence of war to encompass a deep cultural value of harmony, balance, and tranquility. This guide explores the meaning of 和平, its cultural significance in China, and how to use it correctly in contexts ranging from global politics to personal relationships, helping you understand one of the most important concepts in the Chinese worldview. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** hépíng | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Adjective | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** Peace; peaceful; harmony. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **和平 (hépíng)** is the Chinese concept of peace, but it's richer than just the absence of conflict. It describes an active state of harmony, balance, and calm. It can apply on a grand scale, like world peace, or on a personal scale, like resolving a disagreement without anger. Think of it as a state where things are not just "not fighting," but are functioning together in a smooth, stable, and harmonious way. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **和 (hé):** This character is fundamental to Chinese culture and has several meanings, including "harmony," "gentle," "mild," and "and." It's composed of 禾 (hé, grain) and 口 (kǒu, mouth), suggesting a society where there is enough food (grain) for everyone, leading to harmonious relations and speech. | |
| * **平 (píng):** This character means "flat," "level," "even," or "calm." Think of a flat, tranquil lake surface or a perfectly balanced scale. It implies stability and equality. | |
| When combined, **和平 (hépíng)** literally means "harmonious and level" or "gentle and calm." This beautifully captures the idea that true peace is not just a ceasefire, but a stable, balanced, and harmonious state of existence. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, **和平 (hépíng)** is not just a political goal but a profound social and philosophical ideal, deeply rooted in Confucianism and Taoism. The pursuit of harmony is a cornerstone of societal structure. | |
| A key cultural concept is **天下太平 (tiānxià tàipíng)**, meaning "peace under heaven," which was the ultimate goal for any wise emperor—a world that is not just free of war but is prosperous, stable, and harmonious. | |
| **Comparison with Western "Peace":** | |
| In the West, "peace" is often defined in opposition to "war." A peace treaty ends a war; a peaceful protest is non-violent. The focus is often on the absence of conflict. | |
| **和平 (hépíng)**, by contrast, has a more positive and active connotation. It implies the **presence of harmony**. For example, two business partners might "make peace" in the West by signing a contract that stops them from suing each other. In China, achieving **和平** would mean they have truly resolved their underlying issues and restored a smooth, harmonious working relationship. It's about restoring balance, not just ending hostility. This reflects the broader cultural value of collectivism, where the smooth functioning of the group is paramount. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **和平 (hépíng)** is a versatile word used in both formal and everyday contexts. | |
| * **International Politics and News:** This is its most common usage. You will constantly hear it in phrases like **世界和平 (shìjiè hépíng)** - world peace, or **和平条约 (hépíng tiáoyuē)** - peace treaty. | |
| * **Resolving Disputes:** It's frequently used to describe a non-confrontational way of solving problems. A common phrase is **和平解决 (hépíng jiějué)**, "to resolve peacefully." This can apply to anything from a business disagreement to a couple deciding to separate amicably. | |
| * **Describing an Environment or Era:** It can be used as an adjective to describe a country, a time period, or a society that is not at war. For example, **和平年代 (hépíng niándài)** means "an era of peace." | |
| * **Personal Philosophy:** People might say their greatest wish is for a **和平** life, meaning a life free from major conflicts and filled with tranquility. | |
| The word carries a strong positive and often formal connotation, but it is perfectly normal in everyday conversation when discussing the topics above. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| **Example 1:** | |
| 我们都希望**和平**，不希望有战争。 | |
| Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu xīwàng **hépíng**, bù xīwàng yǒu zhànzhēng. | |
| English: We all hope for peace and don't want war. | |
| Analysis: A classic and direct use of **和平** as a noun, contrasting it with its antonym, **战争 (zhànzhēng)**, war. | |
| **Example 2:** | |
| 这是两国之间的**和平**协议。 | |
| Pinyin: Zhè shì liǎng guó zhījiān de **hépíng** xiéyì. | |
| English: This is a peace agreement between the two countries. | |
| Analysis: Here, **和平** is used as an adjective to describe the type of agreement (协议, xiéyì). | |
| **Example 3:** | |
| 他们决定**和平**分手。 | |
| Pinyin: Tāmen juédìng **hépíng** fēnshǒu. | |
| English: They decided to break up peacefully/amicably. | |
| Analysis: This shows how **和平** can be used for personal situations. It implies a separation without fighting or drama, focusing on a harmonious end to the relationship. | |
| **Example 4:** | |
| 我们应该用**和平**的方式解决问题。 | |
| Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi yòng **hépíng** de fāngshì jiějué wèntí. | |
| English: We should use peaceful methods to solve problems. | |
| Analysis: **和平的 (hépíng de)** functions as an adjective modifying **方式 (fāngshì)**, meaning "method" or "way." | |
| **Example 5:** | |
| 他是一个热爱**和平**的人。 | |
| Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge rè'ài **hépíng** de rén. | |
| English: He is a person who loves peace. | |
| Analysis: A common way to describe someone's character. **热爱 (rè'ài)** means "to ardently love." | |
| **Example 6:** | |
| 诺贝尔**和平**奖是一个很高的荣誉。 | |
| Pinyin: Nuòbèi'ěr **Hépíng** Jiǎng shì yí ge hěn gāo de róngyù. | |
| English: The Nobel Peace Prize is a very high honor. | |
| Analysis: **和平** is part of a proper noun here, showing its global recognition. | |
| **Example 7:** | |
| 生活在**和平**年代，我们应该感到幸运。 | |
| Pinyin: Shēnghuó zài **hépíng** niándài, wǒmen yīnggāi gǎndào xìngyùn. | |
| English: Living in an era of peace, we should feel fortunate. | |
| Analysis: **和平年代 (hépíng niándài)** is a set phrase for "a peaceful era" or "peacetime." | |
| **Example 8:** | |
| 这个国家保持了五十年的**和平**与稳定。 | |
| Pinyin: Zhège guójiā bǎochí le wǔshí nián de **hépíng** yǔ wěndìng. | |
| English: This country has maintained 50 years of peace and stability. | |
| Analysis: **和平** is often paired with **稳定 (wěndìng)**, "stability," to describe a desirable state for a society. | |
| **Example 9:** | |
| 我们呼吁双方保持克制，维护地区**和平**。 | |
| Pinyin: Wǒmen hūyù shuāngfāng bǎochí kèzhì, wéihù dìqū **hépíng**. | |
| English: We call on both sides to maintain restraint and safeguard regional peace. | |
| Analysis: A formal sentence typical of diplomacy or news reports. **维护 (wéihù)** means "to maintain" or "to safeguard." | |
| **Example 10:** | |
| 任何人都不能破坏我们来之不易的**和平**。 | |
| Pinyin: Rènhé rén dōu bùnéng pòhuài wǒmen láizhībùyì de **hépíng**. | |
| English: No one can destroy the hard-won peace we have achieved. | |
| Analysis: **来之不易 (láizhībùyì)** is a chengyu (idiom) meaning "not easily obtained" or "hard-won," adding emotional weight to the value of the peace being discussed. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| A common pitfall for English speakers is to use **和平 (hépíng)** in situations where other Chinese words for "peace" or "quiet" would be more appropriate. | |
| * **`和平 (hépíng)` vs. `平安 (píng'ān)`:** | |
| * **和平 (hépíng)** is about harmony and the absence of conflict/war. | |
| * **平安 (píng'ān)** is about safety and being "safe and sound." It's a personal blessing. | |
| * **Incorrect:** When a friend is going on a trip, you **do not** say `祝你一路和平 (Zhù nǐ yílù hépíng)`. This sounds like you hope they don't start a war on their journey. | |
| * **Correct:** You say `祝你一路平安 (Zhù nǐ yílù píng'ān)`, which means "Wish you a safe journey." | |
| * **`和平 (hépíng)` vs. `安静 (ānjìng)`:** | |
| * **和平 (hépíng)** is about lack of societal or interpersonal conflict. | |
| * **安静 (ānjìng)** means "quiet" or "not noisy." | |
| * **Incorrect:** You would not describe a library as `和平`. While it's probably free of conflict, the defining feature is its lack of noise. | |
| * **Correct:** `图书馆里很安静 (Túshūguǎn lǐ hěn ānjìng)` - "It's very quiet in the library." A country can be **和平** (at peace) but also very loud and bustling. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[和谐]] (héxié) - Harmony; harmonious. A core component of `和平` and a key social goal in modern China. | |
| * [[平安]] (píng'ān) - Safe and sound; safety. Used for personal well-being, contrasting with `和平`'s focus on lack of conflict. | |
| * [[战争]] (zhànzhēng) - War. The direct antonym of `和平`. | |
| * [[安宁]] (ānníng) - Tranquility; calm. Describes a peaceful state for a society or environment, often implying freedom from disturbance. | |
| * [[稳定]] (wěndìng) - Stable; steady. A condition often seen as a prerequisite for, or result of, `和平`. | |
| * [[条约]] (tiáoyuē) - Treaty. A legal document, often appearing as `和平条约` (peace treaty). | |
| * [[宁静]] (níngjìng) - Serene; tranquil. A more poetic term for a quiet, peaceful environment or state of mind. | |
| * [[太平]] (tàipíng) - Peace and tranquility. Often used on a grand, societal scale, as in `天下太平` (peace under heaven). | |
| * [[解决]] (jiějué) - To solve; to resolve. Often combined with `和平` to mean "peaceful resolution." | |
| * [[世界和平]] (shìjiè hépíng) - A very common set phrase meaning "World Peace." | |