平 means “flat, even, peace”

へい · hei

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

たいら, たいらげる, ひら

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヘイ, ビョウ, ヒョウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 5 strokes

The story

Picture a set of scales, its beam lying perfectly level. 平 is flat, calm and ordinary: 平和 is peace, 平日 are weekdays, and 平仮名 is hiragana, the "plain" kana.

Used in 平和 (heiwa, peace), 平日 (heijitsu, weekday), and 平気 (heiki, unbothered)

More from Ties & Differences

• 共 together
• 交 cross
• 側 side
• 違 differ
• 差 difference
• 横 side
• 雑 mixed
• 互 each other
• 似 resemble
• 緒 together
• 内 inside
• 相 mutual

Learn 平 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.