Translation and Meaning of: 平等 - byoudou

The Japanese word 「平等」 (byoudou) consists of two kanji that together translate the idea of "equality". The first kanji, 「平」 (hei), means "flat", "level", or "equal". It is often used in contexts to describe stability or uniformity. The second kanji, 「等」 (tou), carries the meaning of "equal", "level", or "same class", and is used to describe equivalence between things or people. The combination of these characters conveys the concept of treating everyone with equal importance and giving everyone the same opportunities.

In the Japanese language, the word 「平等」 is used to refer to the concept of equity and equal treatment among all, regardless of individual differences. This expression has deep roots in Japanese culture, where social harmony and community are widely respected values. In political and social contexts, 「平等」 is often mentioned when debating civil rights, social justice, and policies that promote gender equality and equal opportunities in employment.

Historically, the term 「平等」 dates back to ancient times in Japan, where philosophies imported from China and Buddhism strongly influenced the development of social and ethical values. In Buddhism, for example, the concept of equality is a fundamental part of the teaching that all lives have equal value. During different periods, such as feudal Japan, the concept of 「平等」 faced challenges due to the rigid social hierarchies, but it continued to evolve and be discussed, especially after the Meiji Restoration, which brought a wave of modernization and re-evaluation of social values.

The word 「平等」 continues to hold great relevance in contemporary Japan. The term is widely used in social movements and legal discourses. Moreover, related concepts, such as 「平等主義」 (byoudou-shugi), which refers to "egalitarianism," and 「男女平等」 (danjo byoudou), or "gender equality," reflect the importance and application of this concept in modern society. In business contexts, for example, seeking 「平等」 in the workplace involves implementing policies that ensure equal opportunities for all employees, thereby promoting a fair and equitable environment.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 公平 (Kouhei) - Justice and impartiality, applying the same criteria for everyone.
• 均等 (Kintou) - Equity, equal distribution without privileges.
• 平均 (Heikin) - Average, central value obtained by summation and division; implies neutrality in the data.
• 均一 (Kuin) - Uniformity, the condition of being the same or without variation, emphasizing homogeneity.
• 平等無差別 (Byoudou Musabetsu) - Absolute equality without discrimination, a concept that implies total equity among individuals without exceptions.

平等

Romaji: byoudou
Kana: びょうどう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: equality (a); impartiality; uniformity

Meaning in English: equality (a);impartiality;evenness

Definition: Everyone should receive the same rights and treatment.

Example Sentences - (平等) byoudou

See below some example sentences:

人間は皆平等である。

Ningen wa minna byoudou de aru

All human beings are the same.

All humans are flat.

• 人間 - "human being" in Japanese.
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 皆 - means "everyone" or "everybody" in Japanese.
• 平等 - It means "equality" in Japanese.
• である - It is a formal way to say "is" or "are" in Japanese.

全ての人に平等な機会を与えるべきだ。

Subete no hito ni byoudou na kikai wo ataeru beki da

Everyone must have equal opportunities.

You must give everyone an equal opportunity.

• 全ての人に - All individuals
• 平等な - equality
• 機会を - Opportunities
• 与える - It must be given
• べきだ - It must be done

平等は人間の基本的な権利です。

Heidou wa ningen no kihonteki na kenri desu

Equality is the basic law of humans.

• 平等 - equality
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 人間 - Human being
• の - Particle that indicates possession
• 基本的な - fundamental
• 権利 - right
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

私たちは自由と平等を宣言します。

Watashitachi wa jiyū to byōdō o sengen shimasu

We declare freedom and equality.

We declare freedom and equality.

• 私たち (watashitachi) - we
• 自由 (jiyuu) - freedom
• と (to) - I'm sorry, but I need a text or string to translate from Portuguese to English. Please provide the content you'd like me to work on.
• 平等 (byoudou) - equality
• を (wo) - Direct object particle
• 宣言します (sengen shimasu) - we declare