The word 凡人 is a compound noun formed by combining the character 凡 (fán), meaning "ordinary", "common", or "earthly", with the character 人 (rén), meaning "person" or "human". Literally, it translates to "ordinary person" or "commoner". In classical and modern usage, it carries a nuanced meaning, often contrasting with extraordinary beings like immortals (仙人), heroes, or saints, thereby emphasizing the mundane, mortal, and unremarkable nature of everyday human existence within a broader spiritual, philosophical, or social hierarchy.