平息

píngxī

verb HSK 7 #9,278

Meanings

1 to calm down; to subside; to quell
2 to pacify; to put down (unrest)

Characters

flat; calm; peaceful

to cease; to rest; breath

Literally 'flatten to a stop' — to bring turbulence or agitation to a calm, resting state.

Examples

过了很久，她的怒气才平息下来。

Guò le hěn jiǔ, tā de nùqì cái píngxī xiàlái.

It was a long time before her anger subsided.

政府采取措施平息了抗议活动。

Zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ cuòshī píngxī le kàngyì huódòng.

The government took measures to quell the protests.

Tips

usage

平息 works for both emotions and events. 平息怒气 (calm one's anger), 平息风波 (quell a controversy), 平息事态 (bring a situation under control). It implies something was turbulent and has been brought back to calm.

Stroke Order

平 píng

息 xī