Kilo Lingo

(pǔ tōng) - ordinary, common, average in Mandarin

tōng

Traditional: 普通

Line drawing of 普通
Coloured illustration of 普通
#1605 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

ordinary, common, average

Word origin

A compound of 普 (pǔ, universal, widespread) and 通 (tōng, to go through, common), describing what is widespread and so ordinary.

Origin
compound
Root
普 (pǔ, universal) + 通 (tōng, common)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 普

Stroke order for 通

Examples

He is just an ordinary worker.

This was a perfectly ordinary day.

yán

Mandarin is the official language of China.

I like a simple, ordinary life.

The food at this restaurant is rather average.

普通 (pǔ tōng) is an adjective meaning ordinary or common. It contrasts with 特别 (special) and appears in 普通话, the standard spoken form of Mandarin.

Where this fits

Add to review queue

Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.

Go to my review queue

Mandarin · Free printables

普通: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "普通" (ordinary, common, average): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

Free for members

The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.

Start your free week

This word is part of lesson 33.