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非正常 (fēi zhèng cháng) — abnormal, unusual; improper, irregular

Definition

Literally 'not normal', used formally to describe events, behavior, or operations that deviate from what is proper or expected. Reads as a written, report-style term rather than everyday speech.

adjective
abnormalunusualimproperirregular

Examples

  • 非正常。
    Jīn tiān fā shēng le yì qǐ fēi zhèng cháng shì jiàn.
    An abnormal incident occurred today.
  • 非正常。
    Gōng sī bào gào le fēi zhèng cháng jīng yíng qíng kuàng.
    The company reported abnormal operating conditions.
  • 非正常。
    Zhè zhǒng fēi zhèng cháng xíng wéi xū yào lì jí zhì zhǐ.
    This kind of improper behavior needs to be stopped immediately.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

非fēinot
正常normal
正zhèngcorrect常chángregular
联合Coordinate

非 means 'not'; 正常 combines 正 (correct) and 常 (regular) to mean normal.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

Open 非 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng常cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Open 常 →
Appears in
Good & Bad

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