平均
píngjūn
The Chinese word for the arithmetic mean 'average' is 平均 (píngjūn).
平均 is used to refer to a mathematical or statistical average. When you want to express 'the average' as a noun phrase, such as 'the average level', it is common to append 水平 (shuǐpíng), meaning 'level', to form 平均水平.
Meaning: arithmetic mean (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 平均 refers to a mathematical average, the word 一般 is used colloquially to mean 'average' in the sense of being 'ordinary' or 'mediocre'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term 平均 can be used to convey the meaning of 'average.'
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
píngjūn
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the concept of 'averaging' is sometimes expressed as 摊平 (tānpíng), which literally means 'to spread out flat' like a piece of dough.
- The character 平 represents a level surface and is the same root used in the word for 'peace' 和平, reflecting the Chinese cultural link between balance and harmony.
- The word 均 in 平均 specifically refers to 'even distribution'. In ancient China, this term was tied to the 'Equal Field System' used to distribute land to peasants.
Examples in context
- 人平均一分钟眨几次眼睛？How many times a minute does the average person blink?This sentence is useful for asking about the frequency of a biological action like blinking using 平均.Tatoeba #10752782 by GlossaMatik, translation #950918 by darinmex
- 目前正在審查的規則要求，到 2025 年，汽車製造商所製造的所有汽車，平均續航須達到每加侖 54.5 英里 (每公升 23 公里)。The rules now under review require an average of 54.5 miles per gallon (23 kilometers per liter) from an automaker's entire fleet by 2025.This sentence shows how to express a required mathematical average for a fleet of vehicles using 平均.Tatoeba #13175424 by LeviHighway, translation #12271859 by Cangarejo
- 我的成績高於平均水平。My grades are above average.This sentence demonstrates how to use 平均 to describe a level of performance or grades.Tatoeba #834996 by Martha, translation #477358 by CK
- 这是一家普通的餐馆，价钱不贵。This is an average restaurant with reasonable prices.
- 他们家庭的生活水平一般。Their family's living standard is average.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are discussing their monthly expenses.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我们每月的平均开销是多少？Wǒmen měiyuè de píngjūn kāixiāo shì duōshǎo?What is our average monthly expenditure?
- 浩然 Haoran大约是五千块。Dàyuē shì wǔqiān kuài.About five thousand yuan.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，这个数字太高了。Hàorán, zhège shùzì tài gāo le.Haoran, this number is too high.
- 浩然 Haoran那我们以后要省着点花。Nà wǒmen yǐhòu yào shěngzhe diǎn huā.Then we should spend more sparingly in the future.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “average” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
