The word 通常 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core meaning that merges into a new, unified concept. The first character, 通, carries the idea of "throughout", "general", or "unobstructed", suggesting something that is pervasive or common. The second character, 常, means "constant", "regular", or "ordinary", denoting a state of usual occurrence. When fused, the concept evolves from the general (通) and the constant (常) to express the idea of what is "generally constant", that is, what is usual, normal, or typically the case.