一般 (yībān) · usually
一般 (yībān) means “usually; ordinary; so-so”. It is written with 2 characters: 一 (one) + 般 (sort). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 一般 is built
The characters
一 yī · one
What 一 is made of
一 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 1 strokes.
Origin hint: Represents heaven (天), earth (旦), or the number 1 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
般 bān · sort
What 般 is made of
- 舟zhōu — boat
- 殳shū — tool
- 几jǐ — small table
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 乙yǐ — second
- 又yòu — (once) again
- 几jǐ — small table
Origin hint: Using a tool 殳 to sort items on a tray 舟 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
Questions about 一般
What does 一般 mean?
一般 (yībān) means “usually; ordinary; so-so”.
How do you pronounce 一般?
一般 is pronounced yībān.
Which HSK level is 一般?
一般 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 3.
Related words
- 一半yībànhalf
- 一会儿yīhuìra moment
- 一块儿yīkuàirtogether
- 一下儿yīxiàra little while
- 一样yīyàngsame
- 一边yībiānone side
- 一点儿yīdiǎnra little
- 一起yīqǐtogether
- 一些yīxiēsome
- 不一定bùyīdìngnot necessarily
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 36: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.