平常 píngcháng ordinary
ordinary; common; usually; ordinarily
How to remember 平常: 平 level + 常 often = ordinary.
Characters
How it is used
- Works as both adjective ('ordinary, unremarkable') and adverb ('usually') - 平常我七点起床 (píngcháng wǒ qī diǎn qǐchuáng), usually I get up at 7.
- As adjective: 今天跟平常不一样 (jīntiān gēn píngcháng bù yíyàng) - today is different from usual.
- Overlaps with 通常 (tōngcháng, a bit more formal 'usually') and 平时 (píngshí, 'in normal/ordinary times'); 平常 sits comfortably in everyday speech.
Example sentences
- 我比平常晚到。 Wǒ bǐ píngcháng wǎndào.I arrived later than usual.