# 心平气和

xīn píng qì hé

Stay calm and even tempered

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A level heart and harmonious breath

**Traditional Chinese:** 心平氣和

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe a composed conversation or thoughtful response.

Calm discussion can still include firm disagreement.

## The image & its use

The heart and breath together suggest a settled emotional manner. People commonly use the phrase when encouraging a conversation in which everyone can listen and explain. It does not require agreement or indifference. A person may express a clear boundary or a different view while remaining composed. The useful contrast is with a discussion that becomes too heated to follow. Give both the manner and the issue so calmness serves understanding rather than silence.

## Examples

我们心平气和地讨论时间安排。

### Traditional Chinese

我們心平氣和地討論時間安排。

wǒ men xīn píng qì hé dì tǎo lùn shí jiān ān pái 。

We calmly discussed the schedule.

她心平气和地解释了自己的想法。

### Traditional Chinese

她心平氣和地解釋了自己的想法。

tā xīn píng qì hé dì jiě shì le zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ 。

She explained her ideas in an even-tempered way.

先休息一下，再心平气和地交流。

### Traditional Chinese

先休息一下，再心平氣和地交流。

xiān xiū xi yí xià ， zài xīn píng qì hé dì jiāo liú 。

Rest briefly, then return to a calm conversation.

心平气和并不等于没有立场。

### Traditional Chinese

心平氣和並不等於沒有立場。

xīn píng qì hé bìng bù děng yú méi yǒu lì chǎng 。

Remaining calm does not mean having no position.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1097&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%BF%83%E5%B9%B3%E6%B0%A3%E5%92%8C)

## Keep exploring

- [信誓旦旦 xìn shì dàn dàn Make emphatic, solemn assurances ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-shi-dan-dan)

- [心心相印 xīn xīn xiāng yìn Understand one another deeply ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-xin-xiang-yin)

- [心悦诚服 xīn yuè chéng fú Accept willingly and sincerely ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-yue-cheng-fu)

- [心照不宣 xīn zhào bù xuān Understand each other without saying it ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xin-zhao-bu-xuan)

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