普通 pǔtōng common
common; ordinary; general; average
How to remember 普通: 普 widespread + 通 pass through = common.
Characters
How it is used
- Adjective used attributively or as a predicate: 普通人 (pǔtōngrén, ordinary person), 这很普通 (zhè hěn pǔtōng, this is quite ordinary).
- Root of 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà), literally "common speech," the term for Standard Mandarin.
- Compare 一般 (yìbān): 一般 is neutral "average/so-so" and also means "generally," while 普通 more often implies "nothing special," sometimes with a mildly dismissive edge.
Example sentences
- 那个名字很普通吗？ Nàge míngzì hěn pǔtōng ma?Is that a common name?
- 他不是个普通的学生。 Tā búshì gè pǔtōng de xuéshēng.He is no ordinary student.