Usage note
一般表示普通、通常或大致上。
yì bān biǎo shì pǔ tōng 、 tōng cháng huò dà zhì shàng。
General means ordinary, usually, or roughly.
Context note
一般常出现在比较、说明习惯和描述情况里。
yì bān cháng chū xiàn zài bǐ jiào 、 shuō míng xí guàn hé miáo shù qíng kuàng lǐ。
Usually often appears in comparisons, habits, and describing situations.
5 examples
一般都这样。
yì bān dōu zhè yàng。
It is usually like this.
这个问题一般不难。
zhè ge wèn tí yì bān bù nán。
This question is usually not hard.
我一般早起。
wǒ yì bān zǎo qǐ。
I usually get up early.
他一般不迟到。
tā yì bān bù chí dào。
He is usually not late.
一般来说，天气不错。
yì bān lái shuō， tiān qì bú cuò。
Generally speaking, the weather is good.
5 mini stories
我一般都会先写作业，再去玩。
wǒ yì bān dōu huì xiān xiě zuò yè， zài qù wán。
I usually do homework first, then go play.
这个地方一般很安静，今天却很热闹。
zhè ge dì fāng yì bān hěn ān jìng， jīn tiān què hěn rè nào。
This place is usually quiet, but today it is lively.
一般情况下，老师都会先讲课再提问。
yì bān qíng kuàng xià， lǎo shī dōu huì xiān jiǎng kè zài tí wèn。
In general, the teacher will teach first and then ask questions.
我一般喜欢喝水，不太喝饮料。
wǒ yì bān xǐ huan hē shuǐ， bú tài hē yǐn liào。
I usually like drinking water and do not drink many soft drinks.
这道题一般不难，只要认真就行。
zhè dào tí yì bān bù nán， zhǐ yào rèn zhēn jiù xíng。
This problem is usually not hard; just be careful.
Mini dialogue
一般几点
A
你一般几点起床？
Nǐ yībān jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?
What time do you generally get up?
B
我一般七点起床。
Wǒ yībān qī diǎn qǐchuáng.
I generally get up at seven o'clock.
一般吃什么
A
你早饭一般吃什么？
Nǐ zǎofàn yībān chī shénme?
What do you generally eat for breakfast?
B
我一般吃面包和牛奶。
Wǒ yībān chī miànbāo hé niúnǎi.
I generally eat bread and milk.
Related words and contrasts
similar
普通
pǔ tōng
common; ordinary
Both mean ordinary. 一般 can also mean 'generally'.
opposite
特别
tè bié
special
一般 means ordinary; 特别 means special.