平坦(へいたん)

へいたん
na-adjective
flat, even; uneventful, smooth
descriptivegeography
1. flat, even, level
Describes terrain or a surface that is flat and without significant slopes or bumps.
平坦(へいたん)な道(みち)が続(つづ)く。
The flat road continues.
この辺(あた)りは地形(ちけい)が平坦(へいたん)で歩(ある)きやすい。
The terrain around here is flat and easy to walk.
平坦(へいたん)な土地(とち)が少(すく)ない日本(にほん)では、山(やま)を切(き)り開(ひら)いて住宅地(じゅうたくち)を作(つく)ることが多(おお)い。
In Japan, where flat land is scarce, it is common to clear mountains to create residential areas.
2. smooth, uneventful, without obstacles
Describes a path, course of events, or life journey that proceeds without significant difficulties or dramatic changes.
人生(じんせい)は平坦(へいたん)ではない。
Life is not smooth sailing.
ここまでの道(みち)のりは決(けっ)して平坦(へいたん)ではなかった。
The journey to this point was by no means easy.
彼女(かのじょ)のキャリアは平坦(へいたん)な道(みち)ではなく、多(おお)くの困難(こんなん)を乗(の)り越(こ)えてきた。
Her career was not a smooth road; she overcame many difficulties.

Usage

Used as a na-adjective: 平坦(へいたん)な～. The figurative sense (sense 2) is very common, especially in the negative form 平坦(へいたん)ではない (not smooth/easy), to describe a challenging journey or difficult life path. Related word: 平地(へいち) (flatland, plain).

Common collocations

Related Words

Antonym: 険(けわ)しい (steep, rugged)
Compare: 平(ひら)たい (flat)
Compare: 一本調子(いっぽんちょうし) (monotone)
Compare: 起伏(きふく) (ups and downs; undulation)
general
Added 2026.2.21 19:31 · Revised 2026.9.19 17:22
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