Chinese word

异常

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì cháng

Meaning

  • adverbunusually

Example

他今天异常安静。tā jīn tiān yì cháng ān jìng

He is unusually quiet today.

Illustration for 异常 (unusually)

More examples

会议开始后，气氛异常压抑。huì yì kāi shǐ hòu qì fēn yì cháng yā yì

After the meeting began, the atmosphere was unusually oppressive.

Core concept

A degree or condition that stands noticeably outside what is normal.

Common phrases

  • 异常安静yì cháng ān jìng

    unusually quiet

  • 异常兴奋yì cháng xīng fèn

    unusually excited

  • 异常复杂yì cháng fù zá

    unusually complicated

Similar words

非常fēi cháng: To a very high degree or with great intensity.
特别tè bié: Especially or notably, with a degree that stands out from the ordinary.
格外gé wài: To a degree that is especially strong and beyond the usual level.
极其jí qí: To an extremely high or intense degree.

Definition in Chinese

可以作副词表示非常、极其，也可作形容词表示不正常或反常的状态。ké yǐ zuò fù cí biǎo shì fēi cháng jí qí yě kě zuò xíng róng cí biǎo shì bú zhèng cháng huò fǎn cháng de zhuàng tài

Word origin

异 (yì, "different") + 常 (cháng, "usual") forms the idea of being outside the usual, extending from an abnormal condition to an unusually strong degree.

Usage tips

  • 异常 (yìcháng, "unusually; abnormal") can modify an adjective or describe a state, so the surrounding grammar helps identify whether it means an unusually high degree or an abnormal condition.

Other meanings

  • abnormaladjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 异常情况yì cháng qíng kuàngabnormal situationnoun
  • 异常现象yì cháng xiàn xiàngabnormal phenomenonnoun

Word lists with this word