The adverbs with the meaning “usually”
Let's take a look at the adverbs 一般 and 通常.
HSK 3new HSK 3AdverbsAdjectives
The adverb 一般
We use the adverb to talk about regular actions. We should state it before a predicate, which can be expressed by an adjective, a verb or a verb phrase.
Examples
这种的情况一般很危险
Such situations are usually very dangerous
zhè zhǒng de qíngkuàng yìbān hěn wéixiǎn
周末你一般做什么？
What do you usually do on the weekend?
zhōumò nǐ yìbān zuò shénme
一般 as an adjective
Sometimes we use 一般 as an adjective “usual/ common”. In this case it is often followed by the particle 的.
Examples
这些都是一般常识
It's all common knowledge
zhèxiē dōu shì yìbān chángshì
这个是一般的情况
This is the general case
zhè ge shì yìbān de qíngkuàng
Pay attention
Try to remember the parethentical phrase
The adverb 通常
We use the adverb to talk about familiar events in familiar situations. We should state the adverb 通常 before the predicate.
Examples
这充电器太慢了，通常要三个小时才能把手机充满
This charger is too slow, it usually takes three hours to fully charge your phone
zhè chōngdiàn qì tài màn le, tōngcháng yào sān ge xiǎoshí cáinéng bǎ shǒujī chōngmǎn
我们通常付10%的小费
We usually leave a 10% tip
wǒmen tōngcháng fù bǎi fēnzhī shí de xiǎofèi
Sometimes we use 通常 as an adjective “usually”. It is also often followed by the particle 的.
Examples
一餐通常的价格为10元左右
The normal price for one meal is about ten yuan
yì cān tōngcháng de jiàgé wèi shí yuán zuǒyòu
他从不改变自己通常的习惯
He never changes his habits
tā cóng bù gǎibiàn zìjǐ tōngcháng de xíguàn
The difference between 通常 and 一般
Unlike 通常, the adjective 一般 can be used to mean “so-so”. For example, you can say: (his appearance is so-so). However we cannot say 他的外表很通常.
Examples
这部电影怎么样？—— 一般
What do you think of this movie? — It's so-so
zhè bù diànyǐng zěnmeyàng — yìbān
Learn more
The adverbs with the meaning "sometimes" and "rarely"
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