Definition
平凡 (píng fán) describes something or someone as 'ordinary, commonplace' but often carries a neutral or slightly positive tone, accepting a simple life (e.g. 平凡的生活 'an ordinary life'). 普通 is the more general, everyday word for 'ordinary/average', used for anything from objects to people. 平常 means 'usual/common' and also functions as a noun for 'ordinary times'.
adjective
ordinarycommonplace
Examples
- 平凡,。Tā de shēnghuó hěn píng fán, dàn tā hěn mǎnzú.His life is ordinary, but he is very content.
- 平凡。Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshù le yí gè píng fán rén de gùshì.This movie tells the story of an ordinary person.
- 平凡,。Suīrán gōngzuò píng fán, dàn tā zuò de fēicháng rènzhēn.Although the job is ordinary, he does it very carefully.
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