普通

Adjective

 * 1) ordinary; plain; average; nothing special; general
 * 2) common; universal; widespread
 * 1) common; universal; widespread
 * 1) common; universal; widespread
 * 1) common; universal; widespread

Synonyms




Etymology
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From compound. Compare modern 🇨🇬 phû-thûng, 🇨🇬 pou2 tung1, 🇨🇬 pǔtōng.

Adjective

 * 1) common, ordinary

Usage notes
The form 普通 is replacing 普通な in modern Japanese. See the usage notes below.

Noun

 * 1) the common, the ordinary, nothing special

Usage notes
As a noun, it is usually used with the possessive particle, which makes it function as an adjective.

普通 is widely used for a variety of purposes. For example, to display modesty, one can use it respond to flattery (“oh, I’m nothing special”). Similarly, if a restaurant is okay, but not particularly noteworthy, it can be described as 普通.

普通 is also used in various conventional senses – a is a local train (as opposed to the  or “special express train”), while an average student is a 普通の (futsū no gakusei).