平息

píngxī

verb HSK 7-9 #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

HSK 7-9

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.

HSK 7-9

保安很快平息了这场骚乱。

Bǎo'ān hěnkuài píngxī le zhè chǎng sāoluàn.

Security guards quickly put down the disturbance.

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