平凡

píngfán

adjective HSK 6 #6,558

Meanings

1 ordinary; commonplace; unremarkable

Characters

ordinary; mortal

Flat and ordinary — commonplace, but not necessarily negative.

Examples

她是一个平凡的人，但做了不平凡的事。

Tā shì yīgè píngfán de rén, dàn zuò le bùpíng fán de shì.

She is an ordinary person, but she did extraordinary things.

平凡的生活也有幸福。

Píngfán de shēnghuó yě yǒuxìng fú.

There is happiness in an ordinary life too.

他不甘心过平凡的日子。

Tā bùgān xīn guò píngfán de rìzi.

He wasn't content to live an ordinary life.

Tips

usage

平凡 is neutral to slightly philosophical — it acknowledges ordinariness without strong negativity. 不平凡 = extraordinary. The phrase 平凡中的伟大 (greatness in the ordinary) is a common sentiment in Chinese culture.

Stroke Order

平 píng

凡 fán