HSK · Level 17
135 words
Chinese word
平凡
Pronunciation
Pinyinpíng fán
Meaning
- adjectiveordinary
Example
这只是一个平凡的故事。zhè zhǐ shì yí gè píng fán de gù shì
This is just an ordinary story.
More examples
很多人在平凡的生活中寻找小小的幸福。hěn duō rén zài píng fán de shēng huó zhōng xún zhǎo xiáo xiǎo de xìng fú
Many people look for small joys in ordinary life.
Core concept
Something stays within the usual range instead of attracting special notice, from a routine life to an unremarkable work.
Common phrases
平凡的人生píng fán de rén shēng
ordinary life
平凡的生活píng fán de shēng huó
ordinary life
平凡的日子píng fán de rì zi
ordinary days
Similar words
普通pǔ tōng: Common and typical, with no unusual features.
一般yì bān: General and unexceptional, fitting many ordinary cases.
Definition in Chinese
没有特别或显著之处，常见而普通。méi yǒu tè bié huò xiǎn zhù zhī chù cháng jiàn ér pǔ tōng
Word origin
平 (píng, "level") + 凡 (fán, "ordinary") form a compound that describes something staying at the general level rather than rising above it.
Usage tips
- When this adjective describes a person in conversation, it can sound like a judgment that the person lacks distinction, so a more specific description is often warmer.
Other meanings
- commonadjective
- mediocreadjective
Opposites
- 不平凡bù píng fánnot ordinaryadjective
Related words
- 平凡化píng fán huàmake ordinaryverb
- 平凡性píng fán xìngordinarinessnoun