平常

• 拼音: píng cháng
• 汉字拆解: 平 = pictograph of a balanced scale; 常 = 巾 (cloth) + 尚 (still, yet) — what is always present

含义

Ordinary; usual; normally. Describes everyday routine situations, or refers to what typically happens.

As a noun/adverb, 平常 means 'usually' or 'ordinarily' and describes habitual actions. As an adjective, it means 'ordinary' or 'unremarkable.' Similar to 平时 (usually) but 平常 can also describe the quality of being ordinary, whereas 平时 is purely temporal.

例句

1. 你平常几点起床？
2. 今天的晚饭和平常一样。
3. 他平常不怎么说话。

用法指南

语境: everyday, conversation

语气: casual

正确说法

• 你平常喜欢做什么？(What do you usually like to do?)
• 这只是一个平常的日子。(This is just an ordinary day.)

错误说法

• 我平常明天去跑步。(Don't use 平常 for a specific future plan — 平常 describes habitual actions. Say 我明天要去跑步 for a one-time plan.)

起源与历史

Compound of 平 (flat, level, ordinary) and 常 (constant, frequent), together meaning 'ordinarily level' — i.e. the usual, unremarkable state of things.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal