What's the difference between 平和 and 和平?

Question

If you ask someone how to say "peace" the likely answer you'll get is 平和, which is the common option, but occasionally you'll see the word 和平, which has a very similar meaning, and is indeed just a reversal of the kanji. Can 和平 always be used in place of 平和, or does one have a certain nuance that prevents them from being true synonyms?

Answer 1

Both of these words do mean "peace" in the sense of a lack of conflict, but 平和{へいわ} allows for a more metaphorical view of peace whereas 和平{わへい} describes a lack of a more violent type of conflict, like war.

First let's look at the dictionary entry for 平和:

(1)戦争もなく世の中が穏やかである・こと（さま）。 「―な時代」「―を守る」

(2)争いや心配事もなく穏やかである・こと（さま）。 「―な家庭」「―に暮らす」

It refers to a calmness (穏やか) and an absence of conflict, either armed or personal, and invokes a general idea of peacefulness.

The dictionary entry for 和平:

(1)争いがなく穏やかなこと。平和。 「百年もの間―が続く」

(2)戦いをやめ、仲直りすること。 「―を申し入れる」

(3)気候が穏やかなこと。

The first definition overlaps completely with 平和 and is defined in those terms. The second definition, however, refers specifically to warfare, a very specific state where fighting has stopped and conflicted parties are trying to mend the situation. This is what we refer to when we refer to two parties "hoping for peace," so for example while we hope for 平和 in the Middle East, a general lack of conflict, we also hope for 和平, or the formal end of conflict and the start of a peace process. This meaning cannot be replaced entirely by 平和.

The third definition is about the climate, take it for what you want.