Chinese word

平淡

Pronunciation

Pinyinpíng dàn

Meaning

  • adjectiveordinary

Example

这部电影的情节很平淡，没有亮点。zhè bù diàn yǐng de qíng jié hěn píng dàn méi yǒu liàng diǎn

The plot of this movie is ordinary, with no highlights.

Illustration for 平淡 (ordinary)

More examples

他的平淡的感情不易表露，但很真挚。tā de píng dàn de gǎn qíng bú yì biǎo lù dàn hěn zhēn zhì

His ordinary feelings are hard to express, but they are very sincere.

Core concept

Something mild and unremarkable that does not strongly stand out.

Common phrases

  • 平淡的感情píng dàn de gǎn qíng

    ordinary feelings

  • 平淡的生活píng dàn de shēng huó

    ordinary life

  • 保持平淡bǎo chí píng dàn

    maintain an ordinary life

Similar words

平凡píng fán: Common and unexceptional, without qualities that make it stand out.
普通pǔ tōng: Typical and not unusual, with no special feature or major difference.
单调dān diào: Having too little variation or rhythm, which makes it boring.
乏味fá wèi: Uninteresting and lacking the appeal needed to keep attention.

Definition in Chinese

指事物显得平静、普通而无特别之处，既可表示味道清淡，也可表示内容或情绪缺乏惊喜或张力。zhǐ shì wù xiǎn de píng jìng pǔ tōng ér wú tè bié zhī chù jì kě biǎo shì wèi dào qīng dàn yě kě biǎo shì nèi róng huò qíng xù quē fá jīng xǐ huò zhāng lì

Word origin

平 (píng, "even") + 淡 (dàn, "faint") suggest something even and lacking vivid flavor, which develops into the broader sense of little contrast or excitement.

Usage tips

  • The word is not automatically negative in conversation: it can describe an uneventful life neutrally, while discussion of a film or story can make it sound like a judgment of quality.

Other meanings

  • dulladjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 平淡无奇píng dàn wú qíordinary and unremarkableidiom
  • 平淡化píng dàn huàmake ordinaryverb

Word lists with this word