noun / verb / adjective HSK 5
píng héng
balance · equilibrium · to balance

Meaning

平衡 refers to a state of balance or equilibrium, whether physical (like balancing on one foot), mental (emotional balance), or abstract (work-life balance). As a verb, it means to bring into balance or to counterbalance. The word combines 平 (flat, level) and 衡 (to weigh, to measure), suggesting the idea of leveling scales or achieving even distribution.

Usage

平衡 is commonly used in both everyday and formal contexts. It frequently appears in discussions about health (身心平衡 'physical and mental balance'), economics (供需平衡 'supply-demand equilibrium'), and lifestyle (工作与生活的平衡 'work-life balance'). It can function as a noun, verb, or adjective depending on context.

Examples

  1. 01
    她努力在工作和家庭之间保持平衡
    zài gōng zuò jiā tíng zhī jiān bǎo chí píng héng.
    She works hard to maintain balance between work and family.
  2. 02
    这个运动员的平衡能力非常出色。
    Zhè yùn dòng yuán de píng héng néng fēi cháng chū .
    This athlete's balancing ability is extremely outstanding.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 保持平衡
    bǎo chí píng héng
    to maintain balance
  • 生态平衡
    shēng tài píng héng
    ecological balance
  • 心理平衡
    xīn píng héng
    psychological balance
  • 平衡
    píng héng gǎn
    sense of balance

Antonyms

Origin

衡 originally referred to the horizontal bar of a traditional Chinese scale used for weighing. Combined with 平 (level), the compound 平衡 literally evokes the image of level scales in perfect equilibrium.

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