普通

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普通 [2025/08/13 08:20] – created xiaoer普通 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== pǔtōng: 普通 - Common, Ordinary, General, Average ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** 普通, putong, Chinese for common, Chinese for ordinary, Chinese for general, pǔtōnghuà, standard ticket Chinese, average in Chinese, normal Chinese, common vs gòngtóng, 普通 vs 一般. +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **普通 (pǔtōng)**, a fundamental Chinese adjective for anything "common," "ordinary," or "average." This page explores how **普通** is used to describe everything from people and places to the official name for Mandarin Chinese, **普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà)**. Learn its cultural nuances, how it differs from similar words like **一般 (yībān)**, and see practical examples to master its use in everyday conversation. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pǔ tōng +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** Describing something as common, ordinary, general, or average, lacking special or unique qualities. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **普通 (pǔtōng)** is your go-to word for anything that's "just normal" or "run-of-the-mill." Think of it as the default state of things. A person, a meal, or a day can be **普通**. While it can sometimes imply something is unexciting, its core meaning is neutral—it simply states that something is not out of the ordinary. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **普 (pǔ):** This character means "universal," "widespread," or "general." You can picture it as sunlight (日) spreading everywhere, side-by-side (并), covering everything universally. +
-  * **通 (tōng):** This character means "to go through," "to connect," or "unobstructed." The "movement" radical (辶) suggests a path or road, reinforcing the idea of passage and connection. +
-  * **Word Origin:** By combining "universal" (普) and "going through" (通), the word **普通** creates a vivid image of something that is found everywhere and is accessible throughout. This is the essence of being "common" or "ordinary." +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-  * In many Western cultures, especially in the US, there's a strong emphasis on being "special" or "exceptional." Being called "ordinary" can sometimes feel like a slight. In traditional Chinese culture, however, being a **普通人 (pǔtōng rén)**, or an "ordinary person," is not necessarily a negative thing. +
-  * It aligns with collectivist values where fitting in, contributing to the group, and maintaining social harmony can be more prized than standing out. A **普通人** can be seen as reliable, stable, and down-to-earth—a person who does their part without needing the spotlight. This contrasts with the Western ideal of the rugged individual or the superstar. So, while **普通** describes a lack of specialness, it doesn't automatically carry the same baggage of "boring" or "unambitious" that "ordinary" might in English. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-  * **Describing People, Places, and Things:** This is the most common usage. It's a neutral descriptor for anything that doesn't have standout features. +
-    * `他只是一个**普通**的上班族。` (Tā zhǐshì yīgè pǔtōng de shàngbānzú.) - He's just an ordinary office worker. +
-    * `这家餐厅很**普通**，没什么特别的。` (Zhè jiā cāntīng hěn pǔtōng, méishénme tèbié de.) - This restaurant is very ordinary, nothing special. +
-  * **Technical and Formal Usage:** It's used to mean "general" or "standard" class, as opposed to a special or premium class. +
-    * `我要买一张**普通**票。` (Wǒ yào mǎi yī zhāng pǔtōng piào.) - I want to buy a standard ticket. (As opposed to a first-class or VIP ticket). +
-    * `**普通**感冒 (pǔtōng gǎnmào)` - The common cold. +
-  * **In 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà):** This is a key term every learner must know. **普通话** literally means "common speech" and is the official term for Mandarin Chinese, the standardized national language of China. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 我是一个很**普通**的人。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ shì yīgè hěn **pǔtōng** de rén. +
-    * English: I am a very ordinary person. +
-    * Analysis: A common and often humble way to describe oneself. The connotation here is neutral and down-to-earth. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 这只是一件**普通**的T恤，不贵。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì yī jiàn **pǔtōng** de T-xù, bù guì. +
-    * English: This is just a regular T-shirt, it's not expensive. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **普通** is used to mean "regular" or "standard," implying it's not a designer or special brand. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 你说的是**普通**话吗？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ shuō de shì **Pǔtōng**huà ma? +
-    * English: Are you speaking Mandarin? +
-    * Analysis: This shows the usage of **普通** within the proper noun **普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà)**. Notice how the meaning shifts from an adjective to part of a name. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 这次考试的难度很**普通**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè cì kǎoshì de nándù hěn **pǔtōng**. +
-    * English: The difficulty of this exam was average. +
-    * Analysis: **普通** can be used to describe abstract concepts like "difficulty," meaning it was neither particularly hard nor easy. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 对**普通**民众来说，房价太高了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Duì **pǔtōng** mínzhòng lái shuō, fángjià tài gāo le. +
-    * English: For the general public, housing prices are too high. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **普通** is used to mean "general" or "common," referring to the majority of people, or "the masses." +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 我得的只是**普通**感冒，不用担心。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ dé de zhǐshì **pǔtōng** gǎnmào, bùyòng dānxīn. +
-    * English: What I have is just a common cold, don't worry. +
-    * Analysis: A set phrase, **普通感冒 (pǔtōng gǎnmào)**, is the standard term for the "common cold." +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 他的表现很**普通**，没有给我留下深刻的印象。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā de biǎoxiàn hěn **pǔtōng**, méiyǒu gěi wǒ liú xià shēnkè de yìnxiàng. +
-    * English: His performance was very ordinary; it didn't leave a deep impression on me. +
-    * Analysis: In this context, **普通** carries a slightly negative connotation, implying the performance was uninspired or mediocre. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 你想坐**普通**车还是高铁？ +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng zuò **pǔtōng** chē háishì gāotiě? +
-    * English: Do you want to take the regular train or the high-speed rail? +
-    * Analysis: **普通车 (pǔtōng chē)** refers to the slower, conventional trains, as opposed to the modern high-speed trains (高铁 gāotiě). +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 这是一个在**普通**家庭里发生的**普通**故事。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè zài **pǔtōng** jiātíng lǐ fāshēng de **pǔtōng** gùshì. +
-    * English: This is an ordinary story that happened in an ordinary family. +
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates how **普通** can be used multiple times in a sentence to emphasize the normalcy or everyday nature of a situation. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 和专家相比，我的知识很**普通**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Hé zhuānjiā xiāng bǐ, wǒ de zhīshì hěn **pǔtōng**. +
-    * English: Compared to an expert, my knowledge is very common/basic. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence uses **普通** to express humility, contrasting one's "average" level with a higher, specialized level. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **False Friend: "Common" vs. "Shared"** +
-    * In English, "common" can mean "ordinary" (a common problem) or "shared" (a common interest). **普通** only covers the "ordinary" meaning. For "shared," you must use **[[共同]] (gòngtóng)**. +
-    * **Incorrect:** 我们有**普通**的爱好。 (Wǒmen yǒu **pǔtōng** de àihào.) +
-    * **Correct:** 我们有**共同**的爱好。 (Wǒmen yǒu **gòngtóng** de àihào.) - We have common (shared) hobbies. +
-  * **普通 (pǔtōng) vs. 一般 (yībān)** +
-    * These two are very close synonyms but have a slight difference. +
-    * **普通** is more objective and descriptive. It describes an inherent quality of being standard or average. `这是一个普通大小的苹果。` (This is a normal-sized apple.) +
-    * **[[一般]] (yībān)** can be more subjective and is often used to mean "so-so" or "just okay." If someone asks how a movie was and you say `一般 (yībān)`, it's a polite way of saying it wasn't great. **普通** sounds a bit more like a flat, factual statement. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * `[[一般]] (yībān)` - A very close synonym for "ordinary" or "general," but often used more subjectively to mean "so-so." +
-  * `[[平常]] (píngcháng)` - A synonym meaning "usual" or "ordinary," but often relates to routines, time, or behavior (e.g., `他平常很早就睡觉` - He usually goes to bed very early). +
-  * `[[特别]] (tèbié)` - A key antonym meaning "special" or "especially." +
-  * `[[非凡]] (fēifán)` - A stronger antonym meaning "extraordinary," "outstanding," or "remarkable." +
-  * `[[普通话]] (pǔtōnghuà)` - The most important compound word using this term, meaning "Mandarin Chinese" or "common speech." +
-  * `[[共同]] (gòngtóng)` - Means "common" in the sense of "shared" or "joint," a frequent point of confusion for learners. +
-  * `[[普遍]] (pǔbiàn)` - Means "widespread," "universal," or "prevalent." It describes something that is true for most cases (e.g., `这是一个普遍的看法` - This is a widespread view). +
-  * `[[大众]] (dàzhòng)` - Refers to "the masses" or "the general public." Things that are **大众** are often also **普通**. For example, Volkswagen's Chinese name is `大众汽车`.+