平仄 píngzè level and oblique tones Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 平 píng [level tone] (bound form) the level or even tone in Chinese phonology; short for 平声 píngshēng仄 zè oblique tone (bound form) refers to the falling or entering tones in traditional Chinese poetry, known as 仄声 zèshēng, which contrast with the level tone or 平 píng; see 平仄 píngzè