Japanese Conversation · Level 93
60 words
Japanese word
平凡
Pronunciation
Romajiheibon
Meaning
- na-adjectiveordinary
Example
これは平凡な話です。ko re wa hei bon na hanashi de su
This is an ordinary story.
More examples
彼の発想は一見平凡ですが、実はとても新鮮です。kare no has sō wa ik ken hei bon de su ga jitsu wa to te mo shin sen de su
His idea seems ordinary at first glance, but it is actually very fresh.
Core concept
Describes something that stays within the usual range and lacks a distinctive feature.
Common phrases
平凡な人hei bon na hito
an ordinary person
平凡な生活hei bon na sei katsu
an ordinary life
Similar words
普通futsū: Describes something that falls within the usual range without standing out.
月並みtsukinami: Describes an idea or expression that uses familiar patterns without freshness.
凡庸bonyō: Describes a person or work with little originality or ability beyond the average.
Definition in Japanese
特別なところがなく、ありふれているさま。toku betsu na to ko ro ga na ku a ri fu re te i ru sa ma
Word origin
平 (hei, "level") + 凡 (bon, "ordinary") forms a Sino-Japanese compound for a state with nothing especially distinctive.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, 平凡 (heibon) can describe both a quiet, ordinary life and a story that feels unoriginal, so its tone depends on what is being evaluated.
Other meanings
- mediocrena-adjective
- uneventfulna-adjective
Opposites
- 非凡hibonextraordinaryna-adjective
Related words
- 平凡さheibonsaordinarinessnoun