般般 (bān bān) — all sorts, every kind

Definition

般般 is a bound literary form meaning 'every kind of' or 'all sorts of', almost always followed by a noun (e.g. 般般事情 'every kind of matter'). It is more formal and written than the common 一般 or 各种.

bound form
all sortsevery kind

Examples

  • 般般,。
    Zhè jiā diàn bān bān shāng pǐn dōu yǒu, fēi cháng qí quán.
    This store has all sorts of goods, very complete.
  • 般般,。
    Tā bān bān shì qing dōu zuò dé hěn hǎo, shì gè quán néng rén cái.
    He does every kind of thing well; he's a versatile talent.
  • 般般。
    Zhè ge zhǎn lǎn bān bān zhǎn pǐn dōu lái zì bù tóng guó jiā.
    Every kind of exhibit in this exhibition comes from different countries.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

The sense of 般, 'kind', is doubled to express all sorts.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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