平たい・扁たい|ひらたいhiratai[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
平たい平たい is the common form, written with kanji and kana, and covers the senses “flat,” “even,” “level,” and plain language or words.
扁たい扁たい is a rarely used written variant of 平たい, also written with kanji and kana; you will seldom encounter it.
Definitions
- i-adjectiveflat; even; level
- i-adjectiveplain (language, words, etc.); simpleusu. as 平たく言えば, 平たく言うと, etc.
Conjugation
| Plain form | 平たい（ひらたい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 平たいです（ひらたいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 平たくない（ひらたくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 平たくありません（ひらたくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 平たかった（ひらたかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 平たくなかった（ひらたくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 平たくて（ひらたくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 平たく（ひらたく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 平たければ（ひらたければ） |
| kattara | 平たかったら（ひらたかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym平らたいらNeutralFor flat, level ground or surfaces, and also for a calm mind; 「平たい」 stresses objects being flat and speech being plain.
- SynonymフラットNeutralLoanword for flat, level surfaces, also used for exact times like '10 seconds flat'; 「平たい」 stresses flat objects and plain wording.
- Synonym平ったいひらったいCasualColloquial variant of 「平たい」 with the same meaning—flat, and plain in wording; interchangeable with the headword.
- Synonym平べったいひらべったいCasualColloquial for something flat or squashed flat, said of stones, plates and the like; 「平たい」 is the more neutral choice.
- Related平坦へいたんNeutralDescribes flat roads or terrain, and by extension an easy, uneventful course; 「平たい」 is about flat objects and plain speech.
- Related平滑へいかつWrittenA written, formal word for smooth, slick surfaces; 「平たい」 stresses flatness.
- Related平面的へいめんてきNeutralMeans two-dimensional or superficial, lacking depth; 「平たい」 stresses flat objects and plain, simple wording.
- Related扁平へんぺいWrittenWritten word for a flat, flattened shape, as in 「扁平な石」 or 「扁平足」; 「平たい」 is the more colloquial choice.
- RelatedぺったんこCasualColloquial mimetic word for something squashed or pressed flat; 「平たい」 sounds more neutral.
- Antonym凸凹でこぼこNeutralThe opposite of 「平たい」 in flatness: it describes bumpy, uneven surfaces.
Use 「平たい」 for flat objects and plain, simple wording, as in 「平たい皿」 and 「平たく言えば」. For flat ground use 「平ら」 or 「平坦」; to say casually that something is squashed flat, 「平べったい」. The antonym is 「凸凹」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
