pínghéng: 平衡 - Balance, Equilibrium

• 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: 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.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): pínghéng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A state of balance or equilibrium; to bring into balance.
• 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.

• 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 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-weighing,” painting a perfect picture of bringing different elements into a state of even, stable equilibrium.

The concept of 平衡 (pínghéng) is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese thought, far more so than “balance” is in the West.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

平衡 (pínghéng) is an extremely common and versatile word used in many modern contexts.

• 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.
  • e.g., “His body lost its balance.” (他的身体失去了平衡。)
• 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.
• Diet & Health: 饮食平衡 (yǐnshí pínghéng) means a “balanced diet.” This is a cornerstone of health advice in China.
• 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 1:
  • 骑自行车最重要的是保持平衡。
  • Pinyin: Qí zìxíngchē zuì zhòngyào de shì bǎochí pínghéng.
  • English: The most important thing when riding a bicycle is to maintain balance.
  • Analysis: This is the most literal, physical meaning of 平衡. 保持 (bǎochí) means “to maintain.”
• Example 2:
  • 医生建议我注意饮食平衡，多吃蔬菜。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì wǒ zhùyì yǐnshí pínghéng, duō chī shūcài.
  • English: The doctor advised me to pay attention to a balanced diet and eat more vegetables.
  • Analysis: 饮食平衡 (yǐnshí pínghéng) is a fixed phrase for “a balanced diet.”
• Example 3:
  • 很多年轻人都在努力寻找工作与生活的平衡点。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén dōu zài nǔlì xúnzhǎo gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó de pínghéng diǎn.
  • English: Many young people are striving to find a point of balance between work and life.
  • Analysis: 平衡点 (pínghéng diǎn) literally means “balance point,” a very common way to talk about achieving work-life balance.
• Example 4:
  • 听到这个坏消息，他一时失去了心理平衡。
  • Pinyin: Tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxī, tā yīshí shīqùle xīnlǐ pínghéng.
  • English: Hearing this bad news, he temporarily lost his emotional balance.
  • 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:
  • 这两个国家之间的贸易达到了平衡。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liǎng ge guójiā zhījiān de màoyì dádàole pínghéng.
  • English: The trade between these two countries has reached a balance.
  • Analysis: Here, 平衡 is used in a formal, economic context. 达到 (dádào) means “to reach” or “to achieve.”
• Example 6:
  • 瑜伽可以帮助你提高身体的平衡能力。
  • Pinyin: Yújiā kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ tígāo shēntǐ de pínghéng nénglì.
  • English: Yoga can help you improve your body's ability to balance.
  • Analysis: 平衡能力 (pínghéng nénglì) is a compound noun meaning “balance ability” or “coordination.”
• Example 7:
  • 我们必须平衡利弊，然后才能做出决定。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū pínghéng lìbì, ránhòu cáinéng zuòchū juédìng.
  • English: We must balance the pros and cons before we can make a decision.
  • 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:
  • 保护森林对于维持生态平衡至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Bǎohù sēnlín duìyú wéichí shēngtài pínghéng zhìguān zhòngyào.
  • English: Protecting forests is crucial for maintaining ecological balance.
  • 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:
  • 她的设计在美观和实用之间取得了完美的平衡。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shèjì zài měiguān hé shíyòng zhījiān qǔdéle wánměi de pínghéng.
  • English: Her design achieved a perfect balance between beauty and practicality.
  • 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:
  • 收支平衡是每个家庭理财的目标。
  • Pinyin: Shōuzhī pínghéng shì měi ge jiātíng lǐcái de mùbiāo.
  • English: A balanced budget (lit: income-expense balance) is the financial goal for every family.
  • Analysis: 收支平衡 (shōuzhī pínghéng) is a set phrase meaning “to break even” or “to have a balanced budget.”

• 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: ~~我的银行平衡是一千块钱。~~ (Wǒ de yínháng pínghéng shì yīqiān kuài qián.)
  • Correct: 我的银行余额是一千块钱。 (Wǒ de yínháng yú'é shì yīqiān kuài qián.)
• 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.

• 失衡 (shīhéng) - The direct antonym: imbalance, to lose balance.
• 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. The pleasant state that is often the goal or result of achieving 平衡.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stable, steady. A system in 平衡 is usually also 稳定.
• 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.”
• 中庸 (zhōngyōng) - The Doctrine of the Mean. A core Confucian philosophy about finding the balanced middle path and avoiding extremes.
• 阴阳 (yīnyáng) - Yin and Yang. The philosophical concept of dualism where opposing forces are interconnected and must be in 平衡.
• 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.