Usage note
平常表示平时、普通的时候。
píng cháng biǎo shì píng shí 、 pǔ tōng de shí hòu。
Usually means at ordinary times or in normal situations.
Context note
平常常出现在习惯、比较和日常里。
píng cháng cháng chū xiàn zài xí guàn 、 bǐ jiào hé rì cháng lǐ。
Usually often appears with habits, comparisons, and daily life.
5 examples
我平常很早起。
wǒ píng cháng hěn zǎo qǐ。
I usually get up early.
平常我喜欢读书。
píng cháng wǒ xǐ huan dú shū。
Usually I like reading.
今天和平常一样。
jīn tiān hé píng cháng yí yàng。
Today is the same as usual.
他平常很安静。
tā píng cháng hěn ān jìng。
He is usually quiet.
平常要认真学习。
píng cháng yào rèn zhēn xué xí。
You should study seriously at ordinary times.
5 mini stories
平常我都会先做作业，再去玩。
píng cháng wǒ dōu huì xiān zuò zuò yè， zài qù wán。
Usually I do homework first and then go play.
今天和平常一样，老师很认真。
jīn tiān hé píng cháng yí yàng， lǎo shī hěn rèn zhēn。
Today is the same as usual, and the teacher is very serious.
平常下课后，我们会在操场上玩。
píng cháng xià kè hòu， wǒ men huì zài cāo chǎng shàng wán。
Usually after class we play on the playground.
他平常说话不多。
tā píng cháng shuō huà bù duō。
He usually does not speak much.
平常养成好习惯很重要。
píng cháng yǎng chéng hǎo xí guàn hěn zhòng yào。
It is important to develop good habits at ordinary times.
Mini dialogue
平常的一天
A
你今天过得怎么样？
Nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnme yàng?
How was your day today?
B
很平常，和昨天差不多。
Hěn píngcháng, hé zuótiān chàbuduō.
Very ordinary, about the same as yesterday.
不平常的事
A
今天学校有什么特别的事吗？
Jīntiān xuéxiào yǒu shénme tèbié de shì ma?
Was there anything special at school today?
B
没有，很平常。
Méiyǒu, hěn píngcháng.
No, very ordinary.
A
平常就是最好的。
Píngcháng jiù shì zuì hǎo de.
Ordinary is the best.
Related words and contrasts
similar
普通
pǔtōng
common; ordinary
平常 focuses on being usual or routine, while 普通 means plain or average.
related
平时
píngshí
normally; usually
平时 is an adverb meaning 'in normal times', closely linked to 平常.
opposite
特别
tèbié
special; unusual
特别 means special, the opposite of ordinary.