murrayjames Posted May 9, 2011 at 01:50 AM Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 at 01:50 AM What is the difference between 经常 and 平常? I often get corrected by Chinese speakers for saying one when I mean the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post semantic nuance Posted May 9, 2011 at 02:49 AM Popular Post Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 at 02:49 AM A quick answer to your question, 經常 means 'often'. It refers to 'times' (frequency) 平常 means 'normally', 'at the usual time, not any particular time'. It may refer to 'time' . For examples: 1. 我經常走路去上學。 I often walk to school. 2. 我平常都是走路去上學，但是今天我趕時間，所以我坐車去上學。Normally (Ususally), I walk to school, but today I'm in a rush, so I take the bus. Hope it helps! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiz Posted May 9, 2011 at 04:53 AM Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 at 04:53 AM Agree with semantic nuance's accurate explaination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarevok Posted May 10, 2011 at 08:02 AM Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 08:02 AM What about 通常? I understand it to be pretty much interchangeable with 平常, is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted May 10, 2011 at 03:46 PM Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 03:46 PM Let me throw in one more - 尋常 as in 當時只道是尋常. What about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kiz Posted May 10, 2011 at 03:59 PM Popular Post Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 at 03:59 PM @Sarevok It's different. The meaning may be according. But most of time 通常 can not be used to replace 平常. When 通常 is used in one sentence, there must be some other context relate to it. Here is some examples. 我通常喜欢吃甜食，但最近想减肥，不吃了。 in this case, we can replace 通常 with 平常. 我平常喜欢看电影。 In this single sentence, we can not replace 平常 with 通常, or it may sound a little weird, like 我通常喜欢看电影. If you say this to others, they may wonder "yeah, you usually like watching movies, then what?". People may find your words incomplete. That's my opinion. Hope it helps.~~ 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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