普通
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)
普通 (pǔtōng) · ordinary
普通 (pǔtōng) means “ordinary; common”. It is written with 2 characters: 普 (widespread) + 通 (to go through). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 普通 is built
The characters
普 pǔ · widespread
What 普 is made of
- 並bìng — to combine
- 丷ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
- 亚yà — Asia
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 业yè — business
- 丷ha — kwukyel
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
Origin hint: Everyone 並 under the sun 日 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
通 tōng · to go through
What 通 is made of
- 辶 — walking, moving
- 甬yǒng — path
- 用yòng — to use
- 冂 — frame
- 用yòng — to use
Origin hint: 辶 gives the meaning, 甬 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
他是一个普通人。Tā shì yī ge pǔtōng rén.He is an ordinary person.
这是普通的茶吗？Zhè shì pǔtōng de chá ma?Is this ordinary tea?
Questions about 普通
What does 普通 mean?
普通 (pǔtōng) means “ordinary; common”.
How do you pronounce 普通?
普通 is pronounced pǔtōng.
Which HSK level is 普通?
普通 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021).
Related words
- 普通话pǔtōnghuàMandarin
- 普遍pǔbiàncommon
- 普及pǔjíto popularize
- 交通jiāotōngtraffic
- 通过tōngguòto pass
- 通知tōngzhīto notify
- 通常tōngchángusually
- 通信tōngxìnto keep in touch (by letter, email)
- 通知书tōngzhīshūnotice
- 沟通gōutōngto communicate
Learn 普通 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 34: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.