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| 平衡 [2025/08/04 01:07] – created xiaoer | 平衡 [2025/08/04 01:07] (current) – xiaoer |
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| ====== pínghéng: 平衡 - Balance, Equilibrium ====== | ====== pínghéng: 平衡 - Balance, Equilibrium ====== |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | ===== Quick Summary ===== |
| * **Keywords:** pingheng, pínghéng, 平衡, balance in Chinese, Chinese equilibrium, work-life balance Chinese, Chinese philosophy balance, yin yang, harmony in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary | * **Keywords:** pingheng, 平衡, balance in Chinese, equilibrium in Chinese, how to say balance in Chinese, pínghéng meaning, Chinese philosophy balance, work-life balance Chinese, yin yang, Chinese harmony, TCM balance |
| * **Summary:** "平衡" (pínghéng) is a fundamental Chinese word for "balance" or "equilibrium." It goes beyond the simple physical act of not falling over; it's a core concept in Chinese culture and philosophy, representing a desirable, harmonious state. From achieving work-life balance (工作生活平衡) to the philosophical balance of Yin and Yang (阴阳), understanding "平衡" is key to grasping the Chinese emphasis on moderation, stability, and holistic well-being. | * **Summary:** Discover the deep meaning of **平衡 (pínghéng)**, a fundamental concept in Chinese language and culture. This page explores its meaning of "balance" and "equilibrium," from the literal sense of physical stability to the profound philosophical ideas of Yin and Yang, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the modern pursuit of work-life balance. Learn how to use 平衡 (pínghéng) correctly in everyday conversation and gain a richer understanding of Chinese cultural values. |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | ===== Core Meaning ===== |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pínghéng | * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pínghéng |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb | * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb |
| * **HSK Level:** 4 | * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 |
| * **Concise Definition:** Balance or equilibrium; to balance. | * **Concise Definition:** A state of balance or equilibrium; to bring into balance. |
| * **In a Nutshell:** "平衡" is the idea of a steady, stable, and often ideal state where opposing forces or different elements are in harmony. Think of a perfectly still weighing scale. This concept applies everywhere: in your body (a balanced diet), your finances (a balanced budget), your mind (emotional stability), and your life (work-life balance). It's a positive state that people actively strive to achieve and maintain. | * **In a Nutshell:** **平衡 (pínghéng)** is the Chinese word for "balance." It can be very literal, like keeping your balance on a bicycle. But more importantly, it's a huge cultural concept. Think of it as a state of ideal stability where different forces—like work and life, hot and cold, or Yin and Yang—are all in a healthy, dynamic equilibrium. It’s not about being static, but about constantly adjusting to maintain a harmonious state. |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | ===== Character Breakdown ===== |
| * **平 (píng):** This character's primary meaning is "flat," "level," "even," or "peaceful." Picture a perfectly level surface or a calm, flat body of water. | * **平 (píng):** This character originally depicted duckweed floating evenly on the surface of water. It means "flat," "level," "even," or "peaceful." Think of a calm, level surface or a perfectly balanced scale. |
| * **衡 (héng):** This character originally depicted a balancing pole or the crossbeam of a scale. It's intrinsically linked to the act of weighing and measuring. | * **衡 (héng):** This character originally referred to the cross-beam of a scale used for weighing things. The left side (行) relates to movement or streets, and the right side is a phonetic/semantic component related to weighing. Think of it as the mechanism that measures and achieves balance. |
| When combined, **平衡 (pínghéng)** literally means "level scale." This creates a powerful and intuitive image of achieving a state of perfect equilibrium, where two sides are equal and stable. | * When combined, **平衡 (pínghéng)** literally means "level-weighing," painting a perfect picture of bringing different elements into a state of even, stable equilibrium. |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== |
| In Western culture, particularly in America, there's often an emphasis on "hustle," pushing limits, and maximizing one specific area of life (like career) to its peak. The concept of "平衡" offers a culturally distinct alternative. | The concept of **平衡 (pínghéng)** is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese thought, far more so than "balance" is in the West. |
| "平衡" is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese thought: | * **Philosophy (Taoism & Confucianism):** **平衡** is the practical application of the famous [[阴阳]] (yīnyáng) concept. Life isn't about choosing good over evil or light over dark, but about understanding that all things contain opposing forces that must be kept in dynamic balance for the universe to function. Similarly, the Confucian [[中庸]] (zhōngyōng), or "Doctrine of the Mean," advocates for finding a balanced, moderate path and avoiding extremes in all aspects of life. |
| * **Daoism (道家):** The concept of **[[阴阳]] (yīnyáng)** is the ultimate expression of "平衡". It's not about one force conquering the other, but about two opposing, complementary forces (light/dark, male/female, hot/cold) existing in a dynamic balance that creates the whole. Health and harmony come from keeping these forces in equilibrium. | * **Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):** In TCM, health is defined as a state of **平衡** within the body. Illness occurs when there is an imbalance (失衡, shīhéng) of elements like yin and yang, or "hot" (热气, rèqì) and "cold" (寒气, hánqì) energies. Treatments like acupuncture and herbal medicine are designed to restore this vital balance. |
| * **Confucianism (儒家):** The **[[中庸]] (zhōngyōng)**, or the "Doctrine of the Mean," is a core Confucian virtue. It advocates for avoiding extremes and finding a balanced, moderate path in one's actions and emotions. This is a social and ethical form of "平衡". | * **Comparison to Western "Balance":** While Westerners increasingly talk about "work-life balance," it's often framed as a struggle where work and life are two separate, competing entities. The Chinese concept of **平衡** is more holistic. It's less about a 50/50 split and more about a fluid, integrated harmony. It’s not about "unplugging" from work to "plug into" life, but about creating a life where all elements coexist in a healthy, sustainable rhythm. |
| * **Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):** Health is viewed as a state of "平衡" within the body's energies (like "hot" and "cold" energies, or 火气 and 寒气). Illness is seen as a state of **失衡 (shīhéng)**, or imbalance, and treatments aim to restore that balance. | |
| Compared to the Western idea of "work-life balance," which can sometimes feel like a stressful juggling act between two competing demands, the Chinese ideal of "平衡" is more holistic. It's less about a 50/50 split and more about creating a sustainable, harmonious flow where all parts of one's life are given their proper weight and attention, leading to overall well-being. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== |
| "平衡" is a common and versatile word used in many modern contexts. | **平衡 (pínghéng)** is an extremely common and versatile word used in many modern contexts. |
| * **Work & Lifestyle:** This is perhaps the most common usage for learners to encounter. The phrase **工作与生活的平衡 (gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó de pínghéng)**, "work-life balance," is a major topic of discussion among young professionals. | * **Physical Balance:** This is the most literal usage. You can talk about a person's physical balance, an object being balanced, or exercises that improve balance. |
| * **Economics & Finance:** It's used formally in economic terms, such as **收支平衡 (shōuzhī pínghéng)**, "to balance income and expenditure" (to break even), and **贸易平衡 (màoyì pínghéng)**, "trade balance." | * //e.g., "His body lost its balance." (他的身体失去了平衡。)// |
| * **Physical & Health:** You use it to talk about physical balance, like **保持平衡 (bǎochí pínghéng)**, "to keep your balance," or for health concepts like **营养平衡 (yíngyǎng pínghéng)**, "nutritional balance." | * **Work & Life:** The phrase **工作与生活的平衡 (gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó de pínghéng)**, or "work-life balance," is as common in Chinese offices as it is in Western ones. |
| * **Psychology & Emotions:** The term **心理平衡 (xīnlǐ pínghéng)** refers to a state of mental or emotional equilibrium. If someone is overly angry or sad, you might say their emotions are "unbalanced" or **失衡 (shīhéng)**. | * **Diet & Health:** **饮食平衡 (yǐnshí pínghéng)** means a "balanced diet." This is a cornerstone of health advice in China. |
| The connotation of "平衡" is almost universally positive. It's a state to be desired and achieved. Its formality is generally neutral, fitting in both casual conversation and formal reports. | * **Ecology & Economics:** On a larger scale, you'll hear about **生态平衡 (shēngtài pínghéng)** for "ecological balance" and **贸易平衡 (màoyì pínghéng)** for "trade balance" in the news. |
| | * **Emotions & Psychology:** **心理平衡 (xīnlǐ pínghéng)** refers to "psychological or emotional balance." Someone who is calm and not easily upset has good emotional balance. |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | ===== Example Sentences ===== |
| * **Example 1:** | * **Example 1:** |
| * 初学者学习骑自行车时，很难保持**平衡**。 | * 骑自行车最重要的是保持**平衡**。 |
| * Pinyin: Chūxuézhě xuéxí qí zìxíngchē shí, hěn nán bǎochí **pínghéng**. | * Pinyin: Qí zìxíngchē zuì zhòngyào de shì bǎochí **pínghéng**. |
| * English: When beginners learn to ride a bicycle, it's very difficult to keep their balance. | * English: The most important thing when riding a bicycle is to maintain balance. |
| * Analysis: This is the most literal, physical use of the word. **保持 (bǎochí)** means "to maintain" or "to keep," a verb that very frequently pairs with **平衡**. | * Analysis: This is the most literal, physical meaning of **平衡**. **保持 (bǎochí)** means "to maintain." |
| * **Example 2:** | * **Example 2:** |
| * 很多年轻人都在努力寻找工作和生活之间的**平衡**。 | * 医生建议我注意饮食**平衡**，多吃蔬菜。 |
| * Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén dōu zài nǔlì xúnzhǎo gōngzuò hé shēnghuó zhījiān de **pínghéng**. | * Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì wǒ zhùyì yǐnshí **pínghéng**, duō chī shūcài. |
| * English: Many young people are striving to find a balance between work and life. | * English: The doctor advised me to pay attention to a balanced diet and eat more vegetables. |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates the common "work-life balance" usage. **寻找 (xúnzhǎo)** means "to look for," framing balance as something one actively seeks. | * Analysis: **饮食平衡 (yǐnshí pínghéng)** is a fixed phrase for "a balanced diet." |
| * **Example 3:** | * **Example 3:** |
| * 健康的饮食需要营养**平衡**。 | * 很多年轻人都在努力寻找工作与生活的**平衡**点。 |
| * Pinyin: Jiànkāng de yǐnshí xūyào yíngyǎng **pínghéng**. | * Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén dōu zài nǔlì xúnzhǎo gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó de **pínghéng** diǎn. |
| * English: A healthy diet requires nutritional balance. | * English: Many young people are striving to find a point of balance between work and life. |
| * Analysis: Here, **平衡** is used as a noun in the context of health. **营养 (yíngyǎng)** means "nutrition." | * Analysis: **平衡点 (pínghéng diǎn)** literally means "balance point," a very common way to talk about achieving work-life balance. |
| * **Example 4:** | * **Example 4:** |
| * 这家公司终于实现了收支**平衡**。 | * 听到这个坏消息，他一时失去了心理**平衡**。 |
| * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhōngyú shíxiàn le shōuzhī **pínghéng**. | * Pinyin: Tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxī, tā yīshí shīqùle xīnlǐ **pínghéng**. |
| * English: This company has finally achieved a balance of income and expenditure (broken even). | * English: Hearing this bad news, he temporarily lost his emotional balance. |
| * Analysis: A common business/financial usage. **收支 (shōuzhī)** is a set phrase for "income and expenses." **实现 (shíxiàn)** means "to realize" or "to achieve." | * Analysis: **心理平衡 (xīnlǐ pínghéng)** refers to one's mental or emotional stability. The opposite, **失去平衡 (shīqù pínghéng)**, means "to lose balance." |
| * **Example 5:** | * **Example 5:** |
| * 我们必须**平衡**经济发展和环境保护的需求。 | * 这两个国家之间的贸易达到了**平衡**。 |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū **pínghéng** jīngjì fāzhǎn hé huánjìng bǎohù de xūqiú. | * Pinyin: Zhè liǎng ge guójiā zhījiān de màoyì dádàole **pínghéng**. |
| * English: We must balance the needs of economic development and environmental protection. | * English: The trade between these two countries has reached a balance. |
| * Analysis: Here, **平衡** is used as a verb, meaning "to balance" two competing concepts. This is a common structure: **平衡 A 和 B (pínghéng A hé B)**. | * Analysis: Here, **平衡** is used in a formal, economic context. **达到 (dádào)** means "to reach" or "to achieve." |
| * **Example 6:** | * **Example 6:** |
| * 他失去了工作，心理上有点儿不**平衡**。 | * 瑜伽可以帮助你提高身体的**平衡**能力。 |
| * Pinyin: Tā shīqùle gōngzuò, xīnlǐ shàng yǒudiǎnr bù **pínghéng**. | * Pinyin: Yújiā kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ tígāo shēntǐ de **pínghéng** nénglì. |
| * English: He lost his job and is a bit mentally unbalanced. | * English: Yoga can help you improve your body's ability to balance. |
| * Analysis: This shows the psychological use of the word. **不平衡 (bù pínghéng)** is a simple way to say "unbalanced." The official antonym is **失衡 (shīhéng)**. | * Analysis: **平衡能力 (pínghéng nénglì)** is a compound noun meaning "balance ability" or "coordination." |
| * **Example 7:** | * **Example 7:** |
| * 战争打破了这个地区的**平衡**。 | * 我们必须**平衡**利弊，然后才能做出决定。 |
| * Pinyin: Zhànzhēng dǎpò le zhège dìqū de **pínghéng**. | * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū **pínghéng** lìbì, ránhòu cáinéng zuòchū juédìng. |
| * English: The war broke the balance of this region. | * English: We must balance the pros and cons before we can make a decision. |
| * Analysis: **打破 (dǎpò)**, "to break," is another verb often used with **平衡**, signifying the disruption of a stable state. | * Analysis: In this sentence, **平衡** is used as a verb meaning "to weigh" or "to balance" abstract concepts. **利弊 (lìbì)** means "pros and cons." |
| * **Example 8:** | * **Example 8:** |
| * 生态**平衡**对地球的未来至关重要。 | * 保护森林对于维持生态**平衡**至关重要。 |
| * Pinyin: Shēngtài **pínghéng** duì dìqiú de wèilái zhìguān zhòngyào. | * Pinyin: Bǎohù sēnlín duìyú wéichí shēngtài **pínghéng** zhìguān zhòngyào. |
| * English: Ecological balance is crucial for the future of the Earth. | * English: Protecting forests is crucial for maintaining ecological balance. |
| * Analysis: This shows its use in a scientific context. **生态 (shēngtài)** means "ecology." | * Analysis: **生态平衡 (shēngtài pínghéng)** is the standard term for "ecological balance." **维持 (wéichí)**, like **保持 (bǎochí)**, means "to maintain." |
| * **Example 9:** | * **Example 9:** |
| * 法官的责任是在正义和怜悯之间找到一个**平衡**点。 | * 她的设计在美观和实用之间取得了完美的**平衡**。 |
| * Pinyin: Fǎguān de zérèn shì zài zhèngyì hé liánmǐn zhījiān zhǎodào yí ge **pínghéng** diǎn. | * Pinyin: Tā de shèjì zài měiguān hé shíyòng zhījiān qǔdéle wánměi de **pínghéng**. |
| * English: The judge's responsibility is to find a balance point between justice and mercy. | * English: Her design achieved a perfect balance between beauty and practicality. |
| * Analysis: The phrase **平衡点 (pínghéng diǎn)**, literally "balance point," is a great term for the exact point of equilibrium. | * Analysis: This shows how **平衡** is used to describe the relationship between two qualities. **取得 (qǔdé)** means "to obtain" or "to achieve." |
| * **Example 10:** | * **Example 10:** |
| * 阴阳**平衡**是中医的核心理念。 | * 收支**平衡**是每个家庭理财的目标。 |
| * Pinyin: Yīnyáng **pínghéng** shì Zhōngyī de héxīn lǐniàn. | * Pinyin: Shōuzhī **pínghéng** shì měi ge jiātíng lǐcái de mùbiāo. |
| * English: Yin-yang balance is the core concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine. | * English: A balanced budget (lit: income-expense balance) is the financial goal for every family. |
| * Analysis: This directly connects **平衡** to its deep cultural and philosophical roots in **阴阳 (yīnyáng)**. | * Analysis: **收支平衡 (shōuzhī pínghéng)** is a set phrase meaning "to break even" or "to have a balanced budget." |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== |
| * **"Balance" vs. "Compromise":** A common pitfall is to equate "平衡" with the English word "compromise." While related, they have different connotations. "Compromise" can imply that both parties have to give something up and may be slightly dissatisfied with the outcome. **"平衡" (pínghéng)**, on the other hand, is almost always seen as the *ideal* outcome—a harmonious, sustainable state that is desirable for everyone. It's about finding the perfect middle, not just meeting in the middle. | * **False Friend: Bank Balance:** This is the most common mistake for learners. **平衡** is NOT used for your bank account balance. The correct word for a financial balance or remainder is **余额 (yú'é)**. |
| * **Incorrect Usage: Mediating an Argument:** You wouldn't use **平衡** to say you "balanced" an argument between friends. | * **Incorrect:** ~~我的银行**平衡**是一千块钱。~~ (Wǒ de yínháng pínghéng shì yīqiān kuài qián.) |
| * **Incorrect:** 我**平衡**了我的朋友们的争论。(Wǒ pínghéngle wǒ de péngyoumen de zhēnglùn.) | * **Correct:** 我的银行**余额**是一千块钱。 (Wǒ de yínháng yú'é shì yīqiān kuài qián.) |
| * **Reason:** **平衡** is for balancing concepts, forces, or systems, not for actively mediating a dispute between people. In that case, you would use a word like **[[调解]] (tiáojiě)**, which means "to mediate." | * **平衡 (pínghéng) vs. 和谐 (héxié):** These are related but different. **平衡 (pínghéng)** refers to the state of equilibrium between different, often opposing, forces. **和谐 (héxié)** means "harmony" and describes the resulting positive, peaceful, and cooperative state. You achieve **和谐 (héxié)** by first establishing **平衡 (pínghéng)**. Balance is the mechanism; harmony is the beautiful result. |
| * **Correct:** 我**调解**了我的朋友们的争论。(Wǒ tiáojiěle wǒ de péngyoumen de zhēnglùn.) - I mediated the argument between my friends. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== |
| * [[失衡]] (shīhéng) - The direct antonym: to lose balance, imbalance. | * **[[失衡]] (shīhéng)** - The direct antonym: imbalance, to lose balance. |
| * [[和谐]] (héxié) - Harmony; harmonious. This is often the *goal* or *result* of achieving balance, especially in society or relationships. | * **[[和谐]] (héxié)** - Harmony. The pleasant state that is often the goal or result of achieving **平衡**. |
| * [[稳定]] (wěndìng) - Stable; steady. A state of balance leads to stability. | * **[[稳定]] (wěndìng)** - Stable, steady. A system in **平衡** is usually also **稳定**. |
| * [[中庸]] (zhōngyōng) - The Doctrine of the Mean. A core Confucian philosophical concept about avoiding extremes, which is the ethical application of "平衡". | * **[[均衡]] (jūnhéng)** - Even, balanced. A very close synonym to **平衡**, often used in more technical or formal writing, like **均衡发展 (jūnhéng fāzhǎn)** for "balanced development." |
| * [[阴阳]] (yīnyáng) - Yin and Yang. The quintessential Daoist symbol of dynamic balance between opposing forces. | * **[[中庸]] (zhōngyōng)** - The Doctrine of the Mean. A core Confucian philosophy about finding the balanced middle path and avoiding extremes. |
| * [[协调]] (xiétiáo) - To coordinate; to harmonize. This verb is about the *process* of bringing different elements into a balanced and cooperative state. It's more about logistics and cooperation than philosophical balance. | * **[[阴阳]] (yīnyáng)** - Yin and Yang. The philosophical concept of dualism where opposing forces are interconnected and must be in **平衡**. |
| * [[匀称]] (yúnchèn) - Well-proportioned; symmetrical. This is a visual or physical type of balance, often used to describe a person's figure or a well-designed object. | * **[[协调]] (xiétiáo)** - To coordinate, harmonious. Refers to making different parts work together smoothly, focusing on the process of creating harmony. |
| | * **[[余额]] (yú'é)** - The correct term for a financial balance or remainder in an account. |