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凡人 (fán rén) — ordinary person; mortal (in contrast to immortals, sages, or the very exceptional)

Definition

凡人 emphasizes the contrast with immortals (神仙), sages, or the exceptionally gifted — 'mortal, ordinary person' in a mythic or elevated frame. In plain modern talk, 普通人 is the neutral default.

noun
ordinary personmortal (in contrast to immortals, sages, or the very exceptional)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 凡人，。
    Tā zhǐ shì yí gè fán rén, méi yǒu chāo néng lì.
    He is just an ordinary person with no superpowers.
  • ，凡人。
    Zài shén xiān yǎn lǐ, fán rén de shēng mìng hěn duǎn zàn.
    In the eyes of immortals, a mortal's life is very short.
  • 凡人。
    Zhè běn xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le fán rén de xǐ nù āi lè.
    This novel depicts the joys and sorrows of ordinary people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

凡fánordinary
人rénperson

凡人 joins 凡, meaning ordinary, with 人, meaning person, to describe an ordinary mortal.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

Open 凡 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →
Appears in
Mythology & FolklorePeople (General)

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