和平
hé píng
Peace
和平 is the most common and versatile word for "peace" in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to a state of tranquility, the absence of war, or harmony. It can be used for global peace, national peace, or a peaceful resolution to a conflict.
When to use it
Neutral. It's suitable for formal discussions about world peace (世界和平) and also for describing a peaceful environment. For inner calm or tranquility, you might use 平静. To describe a quiet, undisturbed place, you'd use 安静.
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like “HER-ping.” Both syllables are rising tones, but the first one is often pronounced a bit lighter when spoken naturally.
Other ways to say it
- 平静píng jìngcalm, tranquil (often for inner peace)
- 和平共处hé píng gòng chǔpeaceful coexistence (for international relations)
- 天下太平tiān xià tài píngpeace throughout the land (a more classical expression)
Examples
我们都希望世界和平。
wǒ men dōu xī wàng shì jiè hé píng 。
We all hope for world peace.
他内心很平静。
tā nèi xīn hěn píng jìng 。
He has inner peace / He is very calm inside.
两国决定和平解决争端。
liǎng guó jué dìng hé píng jiě jué zhēng duān 。
The two countries decided to resolve the dispute peacefully.
Pro tip: While 和平 refers to the absence of conflict or a state of harmony, 平静 is more about a state of calm or tranquility, often internal or describing a quiet scene. 安静 refers to quietness, specifically the absence of noise.
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