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March 24, 2026
普遍pǔbiàn(pu3bian4)
普遍 (pǔbiàn) refers to something that is universal or widespread, indicating that it is common across a certain area or among a certain group of people. It can be used in contexts ranging from social behaviors to scientific principles, emphasizing the broad applicability of a concept or phenomenon.
Strokes24Frequency#9976DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of 普遍 often relates to collective experiences, such as social norms and values that are widely accepted across different regions and communities, reflecting the importance of harmony and shared understanding.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'uniform' (普 - pǔ) coat that everyone (遍 - biàn) wears, making it clear that it’s common to all. The visual of everyone in the same coat helps reinforce the idea of universality and the pronunciation of the word.
Meanings of 普遍
pǔbiàn(pu3bian4)
1universal
2general
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About 普遍
普遍Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#9976Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 普遍
Podcast: 普遍
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AI Study Notes for 普遍
Quick Contrast
普遍 (pǔbiàn) vs 广泛 (guǎngfàn): use 普遍 for emphasis on universality or commonality among a group, while 广泛 emphasizes a wide range or extensive coverage.
Usage Notes
普遍 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of tone; the third tone (pǔ) and fourth tone (biàn) must be pronounced correctly to convey the meaning accurately. Common collocations include '普遍现象' (universal phenomenon) and '普遍接受' (widely accepted).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 普遍 connects to other adjectives describing extent and frequency, such as 常见 (common) or 广泛 (extensive). Focus on using it in sentences that require describing commonality or generalization.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 普遍 with 频繁 (frequent), which implies regularity rather than universality. For example, saying '这种情况是频繁的' (This situation is frequent) instead of '这种情况是普遍的' (This situation is universal) can lead to misunderstanding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 普遍
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普遍 (pǔbiàn) refers to something that is universal or widespread, indicating that it is common across a certain area or among a certain group of people. It can be used in contexts ranging from social behaviors to scientific principles, emphasizing the broad applicability of a concept or phenomenon.
When to use 普遍
普遍 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of tone; the third tone (pǔ) and fourth tone (biàn) must be pronounced correctly to convey the meaning accurately. Common collocations include '普遍现象' (universal phenomenon) and '普遍接受' (widely accepted).
普遍 or something close to it
普遍 (pǔbiàn) vs 广泛 (guǎngfàn): use 普遍 for emphasis on universality or commonality among a group, while 广泛 emphasizes a wide range or extensive coverage.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 普遍 with 频繁 (frequent), which implies regularity rather than universality. For example, saying '这种情况是频繁的' (This situation is frequent) instead of '这种情况是普遍的' (This situation is universal) can lead to misunderstanding.
Write 普遍
普
遍
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Grammar Patterns of 普遍
普遍 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 4 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.
