平靜 / 平静
píngjìng
The English phrase 'serene' can be translated into Mandarin as 平靜 / 平静 (píngjìng). If unsure, use 平靜 / 平静. Wiktionary also lists 寧靜 / 宁静 (níngjìng) and 安詳 / 安详 (ānxiáng).
Meaning: peaceful, calm (adj)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 平靜 / 平静 | píngjìng |
| 寧靜 / 宁静 | níngjìng |
| 安詳 / 安详 | ānxiáng |
平靜 / 平静 (píngjìng) is the most versatile term and can be used for both physical surfaces (like a calm sea) and emotional states (a calm mind).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 平靜 / 平静 is composed of 平 (píng), meaning 'level' or 'flat' and 靜 (jìng), meaning 'quiet' or 'still'.
Which one should you use?
While 平靜 / 平静 is a general term for calm, 寧靜 / 宁静 (níngjìng) is more formal and often used in literature to describe a profound, soulful or environmental serenity. Unlike the other two terms which can describe scenery or states of mind, 安詳 / 安详 (ānxiáng) is specifically used to describe a person's demeanor, implying a serene, composed and dignified manner, often associated with the elderly.
How do you pronounce it?
píngjìng
Did you know?
- The character 靜 (jìng) used in 'serene' contains the radical for 'blue' or 'green' (青), which is often associated with the calm, still colors of nature in traditional aesthetics.
- Because 安詳 is so strongly associated with the elderly and a 'peaceful' departure, using it for a young person can sound unintentionally ironic or slightly morbid.
- The character 平 in 平靜 is also the root of the word for 'average' or 'equal', linking the idea of serenity to a lack of extremes.
Examples in context
- 非常宁静的Very serene
- 十分宁静的Extremely peaceful
Sources
- Wiktionary, “serene” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
