Radical 一

5 strokes

dry 干 (124) + horns 丷 (65a) = level 平

Note the “horns” are inside “dry” rather than on top (as in “offend”, 307a) and notice once again that this difference is built into the story.

As well as “level”, this character also means “flat” or “calm”.

[平安 (91) píng’ān safe, safe and sound]

[和平 (126) hépíng peace]

[平方 (291) píngfāng square (e.g. meters)]

[不平 (9) bùpíng unfair; resent]

The cow put her horns inside the tumble dryer — which were such a weight that she had to check it was level before she could switch it on. / The fairy used the level surface as a ping-pong table.