普遍 pǔbiàn common
common; universal; general; widespread
How to remember 普遍: 普 widespread + 遍 a time (through) = common.
Characters
How it is used
- An adjective/adverb for something widespread across a group or situation - 这是一个普遍现象 (zhè shì yí ge pǔbiàn xiànxiàng) this is a common/widespread phenomenon.
- Different from 常见 (chángjiàn, commonly seen/encountered, more about frequency of individual instances) - 普遍 stresses that something applies broadly across cases or people, often used with 现象, 问题, 规律.
- Can act as an adverb before a verb - 普遍认为 (pǔbiàn rènwéi) it is generally believed that...
- More formal/written than everyday 一般 (yìbān, usually/ordinary).
Example sentences
- 中国人普遍都爱吃包子。 Zhōngguórén pǔbiàn dōu ài chī bāozi.Most Chinese love to eat baozi.
- 学术造假比你想象的普遍。 Xuéshù zàojiǎ bǐ nǐ xiǎngxiàng de pǔbiàn.Academic fraud is more common than you might think.