一般 yìbān — ordinary, so-so, nothing special

Meanings

1. 1

   ordinary, so-so, nothing special

   The polite way to say "not very good". Asked how the food was, 一般 means it was unremarkable — a soft no rather than a yes, and much used because a blunt 不好 would be rude.

   adjective
2. 2

   generally, usually

   adverb

   Before a verb, 一般 states a habit: 我一般七点起床. It is weaker than 总是 (always) and stronger than 有时候 (sometimes), and often appears as 一般来说, "generally speaking".

Example sentences

• 这个饭店的菜一般，不太好吃。/這個飯店的菜一般，不太好吃。Zhège (fourth tone, falling) fàndiàn (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) cài (fourth tone, falling) yìbān, (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) tài (fourth tone, falling) hǎochī. (third tone, dipping)···

  The food at this restaurant is nothing special — not very good.

• 我一般七点起床。/我一般七點起床。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) yìbān (fourth tone, falling) qī (first tone, high and level) diǎn (third tone, dipping) qǐchuáng. (third tone, dipping)···

  I usually get up at seven.

Common mistakes

• Not quite他和我一般高。

  Correct他和我一样高。

  一样 means "the same"; 一般 means "average". One character apart, and 他和我一般高 says the two of you are of unremarkable height rather than of equal height.

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