Definitions
(adjective)
ordinary; commonplace; mundane
(adjective)
every; all; whatever
(noun)
outline; gist
Etymology
Depicts a wide and flat object such as a tray or plate, now written as 槃. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "凡" etymologically stems from an early pictorial representation of a mold or plate, which informed its initial meaning of "all" or "every", reflecting the mold's function of creating uniform instances. Its contemporary structure is analyzed as being composed of the component "几" topped with a short stroke, a form that obscures its original pictographic lineage. Over centuries, the semantic range narrowed from expressing totality to emphasizing what is general or usual, culminating in its predominant modern sense denoting "ordinary" or "commonplace".
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
凡事要小心。
他是一个平凡的人。
凡是我的朋友我都帮助。
平凡的工作也有价值。
凡事都有两面性。
凡是参加过比赛的人都知道规则。
在平凡的日子里，也能找到不平凡的快乐。
凡是涉及公众利益的事情，都必须公开透明地处理。