平等(びょうどう)

びょうどう
noun, na-adjective
equality
1. equality, impartiality
The state of being equal in status, rights, or opportunities.
法(ほう)の下(もと)では全員(ぜんいん)平等(びょうどう)だ。
Everyone is equal under the law.
男女(だんじょ)平等(びょうどう)の社会(しゃかい)を目指(めざ)す。
To aim for a society with gender equality.
男女平等 = gender equality
子供(こども)たちを平等(びょうどう)に扱(あつか)う。
To treat children equally.

平等(びょうどう) means equality in status, rights, or treatment. Functions as both a noun and a na-adjective.

AS NA-ADJECTIVE:

  • 平等(びょうどう)な社会(しゃかい): an equal society
  • 平等(びょうどう)な権利(けんり): equal rights
  • 平等(びょうどう)に扱(あつか)う: to treat equally

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 男女(だんじょ)平等(びょうどう): gender equality
  • 機会(きかい)平等(びょうどう): equal opportunity
  • 不平等(ふびょうどう): inequality (antonym)

CONTRAST:

  • 平等(びょうどう): equality (everyone gets the same treatment)
  • 公平(こうへい): fairness (everyone is treated appropriately, not necessarily identically)
  • 対等(たいとう): equal footing (between specific parties, especially in status or power)

USAGE NOTE:
平等(びょうどう) is commonly used in social and political discussions. The Buddhist concept of 平等(びょうどう) (all beings are equal) is the historical origin of this word in Japanese.

Related Words

Antonym: 不平等(ふびょうどう) (inequality)
Synonym: 公平(こうへい) (fair, impartial)
general
Added 2026.1.13 0:31 · Revised 2026.4.5 13:45
03500/03590_byoudou