Discussion of 平常 [píng cháng] ordinary, common; mediocre, average; normal/ordinary times, usual days

Discussion of 平常

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How is 平常 (píng cháng) used in everyday conversations?

个学生

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平常 (píng cháng) is used to describe something that is ordinary, common, or average. It is often used to contrast with something that is extraordinary or exceptional. For example, one might say:

"他的表现很平常，没有什么特别的 (tā de biǎo xiàn hěn píng cháng, méi yǒu shén me tè bié de) - His performance was ordinary, nothing special."

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In this post, let's take a look at these three words; 平时, 平常 and 一般:

Bear in mind that in the Chinese languages, unlike English, different words (or even phrases) can serve as an adverbial adjunct in a sentence, e.g. adverbs, nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns, etc. Now let's a look at these three words one by one:

平时 is a noun and it has two meanings:
1. [noun] ordinary times, normal times, usual days
Examples:
- 到了旺季的时候，公园的门票会比平时贵。 [phr] When then busy season arrives, the ticket prices of parks will be more expensive than usual.
- 她平时喜欢打网球。 [phr] She usually likes playing tennis.
2. [noun] time of peace (as opposed to times during a war)
Example:平时编制 [phr] peacetime establishment, peacetime organization

平常 can be an adjective or a noun:
1. [adj.] ordinary, common; mediocre, average
Examples:
- 昨天是很平常的一天。 [phr] Yesterday was quite an ordinary day.
- 她的能力很平常。 [phr] Her ability is quite average.
2. [noun] normal/ordinary times, usual days
Examples:
- 跟平常比起来，买东西真的比较划算。 [phr] Compared to the usual days, it's indeed quite worthwhile to buy things (now).
- 像平常一样 [phr] as usual
- 你平常有没有规律运动？ [phr] Do you always do sports regularly?

* Let's first compare 平时 and 平常. Both being nouns indicating time, 平时-1 and 平常-2 and interchangeable:
- They can both be used after a preposition forming a prepositional phrase.
Examples:
- 跟平常比起来/ 跟平时比起来
- 像平常一样/ 像平常一样
- 比平时贵/ 比平常贵
- They can both appear in a sentence as an adverbial adjunct.
Examples:
- 她平时喜欢打网球。/ 她平常喜欢打网球。
- 你平常有没有规律运动？/ 你平时有没有规律运动？

一般 is a numeral and an adjective:
1. [num] one kind
Example: 别有一般滋味 [phr] to have some indescribable taste
2. [adj.] ordinary, common, general; same as, just like
Examples:
- 那个人的相貌很一般。 [phr] That person has a plain face.
- 宛如天堂一般 [phr] just like paradise
- 我们一般早上八点来上班。 [phr] We usually come to work at eight o'clock.

* Note that because 一般-2 is an adjective, it cannot be used interchangeably with 平时-1 and 平常-2 in prepositional phrases (= phrase consisting of a preposition and its object):
Examples: we can use 平常 or 平时 in these phrases below, but we cannot use 一般:
- 跟平常比起来/ 跟平时比起来
- 像平常一样/ 像平常一样
- 比平时贵/ 比平常贵

When used as adverbial adjuncts in a sentence, 一般-2, 平时-1 and 平常-2 are kind of different in the emphasis in meanings. 平时-1 and 平常-2 emphasize on "ordinary times, usual days". 一般-2 simply simply means "generally, usually".

lisaC

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