平常

• Reading: へいじょう
• Romaji: heijō
• Kanji breakdown: 平 (hei) — flat, ordinary, peaceful; 常 (jō) — always, constant, usual
• Pronunciation: /he.i.d͡ʑo.ɯ/

Meaning

Normal; usual; ordinary. The regular, everyday state of affairs.

An adjectival noun and noun describing the standard, unremarkable state: 平常通り (as usual/normally), 平常心 (composure/equanimity). Distinguished from 普通 (futsū, normal) — 平常 emphasises the baseline or default state, often in contrast to an emergency or special circumstance. 平常心 is a particularly important compound meaning the ability to remain calm and centred.

Examples

1. 地震のあと電車は平常通り運行している。 After the earthquake, the trains are running as normal.
2. 試合前は平常心を保つことが大切だ。 It's important to stay composed before a game.
3. 平常の生活に戻るまで時間がかかった。 It took some time to get back to normal life.

Usage Guide

Context: transport, psychology, daily life

Tone: calm

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 平 (hei, flat/ordinary/peaceful) + 常 (jō, always/constant/usual). Literally 'ordinarily constant' — the normal, steady state of things.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal