Meanings of 凡
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About 凡
Podcast: 凡
Podcast: 凡
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AI Study Notes for 凡
凡 (fán) vs 一切 (yīqiè) — use 凡 when emphasizing commonality or ordinariness, while 一切 refers more broadly to 'everything' without the same nuance of ordinariness.
Be careful not to confuse 凡 with similar characters, as it specifically conveys a sense of ordinariness. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in literary or philosophical discussions. Common collocations include 凡事 (fán shì) meaning 'everything' or 'in all matters.'
Although not currently in the HSK level list, 凡 connects to the concept of commonality found in basic vocabulary. Students should focus on the nuances of how it contrasts with words that imply rarity or exceptionality, enhancing their understanding of everyday language.
Learners often confuse 凡 with 非 (fēi), which means 'not' or 'non-'. For example, saying 凡不是 (fán bù shì) instead of saying '凡是' (fán shì) is incorrect; the latter means 'everything is.'
Pronunciation of 凡
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Etymology of 凡
Originally a pictograph of a plate or dish. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
A plate or flat dish; an everyday item
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 凡
Originally a pictograph of a plate or dish. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 1The giveawayA plate or flat dish; an everyday item
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 凡? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 凡?
Decomposition of 凡
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How to say ordinary in Chinese
“ordinary” in Chinese is凡
The character 凡 (fán) refers to the concept of ordinariness or commonality. It signifies things that are mundane and material, as opposed to the supernatural. This word is often used in contexts that emphasize inclusivity, such as 'everyone' or 'all things.'
When to use 凡
Be careful not to confuse 凡 with similar characters, as it specifically conveys a sense of ordinariness. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in literary or philosophical discussions. Common collocations include 凡事 (fán shì) meaning 'everything' or 'in all matters.'
凡 or something close to it
凡 (fán) vs 一切 (yīqiè) — use 凡 when emphasizing commonality or ordinariness, while 一切 refers more broadly to 'everything' without the same nuance of ordinariness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 凡 with 非 (fēi), which means 'not' or 'non-'. For example, saying 凡不是 (fán bù shì) instead of saying '凡是' (fán shì) is incorrect; the latter means 'everything is.'
Write 凡
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Practice writing 凡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 凡
凡 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 13 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
____是听到高兴的事，他都和朋友分享。
Whenever he hears happy news, he shares it with friends without exception.
Example Sentences for 凡 (10)
Word Family of 凡
Compound Meaning
What does 帆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 凡
You can say 凡人都有自己的梦想 (fán rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng), meaning 'every person has their own dreams.'
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