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March 24, 2026
水平shuǐpíng(shui3ping2)
水平 (shui3 ping2) refers to a level or standard of achievement in various contexts, such as education, skill, or quality. It can also describe something that is horizontal in positioning, emphasizing balance and equality. This term is commonly used in discussions about personal capabilities or comparing standards.
Frequency#2565DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, '水平' is often used in educational settings to assess students' abilities and is a key term in discussions about job qualifications and professional skills, reflecting the value placed on achievement and standards.
Memory Tip
Imagine a calm lake (水) that reflects a perfectly flat horizon (平). The image of the water (水) being level (水平) with the sky above helps you remember both the meaning of 'level' and the pronunciation 'shui ping'.
Meanings of 水平
shuǐpíng(shui3ping2)
1level (of achievement etc)
2standard
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 水平
水平Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2565Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 水平
Podcast: 水平
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AI Study Notes for 水平
Quick Contrast
水平 (shui3 ping2) vs 标准 (biāo zhǔn) — use 水平 for personal or skill levels, while 标准 refers to a specific standard or criterion.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a calm lake (水) that reflects a perfectly flat horizon (平). The image of the water (水) being level (水平) with the sky above helps you remember both the meaning of 'level' and the pronunciation 'shui ping'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tone when pronouncing 水平; incorrect tones can lead to misunderstandings. It is often used in both formal and informal settings but is especially common in academic and professional discussions. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '水瓶' (water bottle) which has different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 水平 connects well with other words related to measurement and comparison, such as 高 (high) and 低 (low). Students should focus on using it in sentences that express comparisons or evaluations of skills and attributes.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, '水平' is often used in educational settings to assess students' abilities and is a key term in discussions about job qualifications and professional skills, reflecting the value placed on achievement and standards.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 水平 with 水平线 (shui3 ping2 xian4), which means 'horizontal line', thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 水平 focuses on achievement or standards, while 水平线 refers specifically to horizontal positioning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 水平
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Grammar Patterns of 水平
水平 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
My department had a healthy interest in keeping expenses down.
Cultural Notes for 水平
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, '水平' is often used in educational settings to assess students' abilities and is a key term in discussions about job qualifications and professional skills, reflecting the value placed on achievement and standards.
Frequently Asked Questions about 水平
No, 水平 specifically refers to levels of achievement or quality, not physical levels like floors.
You can say, '他的水平很高' (tā de shuǐpíng hěn gāo), meaning 'His level is very high'.
Yes, you can also use 标准 (biāo zhǔn) to refer to a standard, though 水平 emphasizes achievement.
