平起平坐
píng qǐ píng zuò
to be on an equal footing
Character by character
平píng
equal
equal
起qǐ
rise
rise
平píng
equal
equal
坐zuò
sit
sit
Example
在这家公司，刚来的年轻人也能跟老板平起平坐，有话直说。
At this company even the newest recruit can deal with the boss as an equal and speak their mind.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
To stand and sit as equals: equal rank or say. Usually 跟／和…平起平坐, and often as a goal not yet reached: 还不能平起平坐, 想跟大国平起平坐.
Learn this in Lesson 50 · HSK 5–6: 半边天 (Women hold up half the sky)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →