Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== pǔbiàn: 普遍 - Universal, Widespread, Common ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 普遍, pǔbiàn, pǔbiàn meaning, what does pǔbiàn mean, universal in Chinese, common in Chinese, widespread in Chinese, pǔbiàn vs 普通, general opinion in Chinese, Chinese grammar. * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **普遍 (pǔbiàn)**, meaning "universal," "widespread," or "common." This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage. Discover how 普遍 is used to describe broad trends, common beliefs, and widespread phenomena in modern China, and learn the crucial difference between 普遍 (widespread) and 普通 (ordinary). ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pǔbiàn * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Adverb * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** Affecting all or most parts of something; widespread, prevalent, or universal. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **普遍 (pǔbiàn)** as describing the //scope// or //distribution// of something. It's not just "common" like an average Tuesday, but "common" in the sense that it's found almost everywhere within a certain group or area. It answers the question "How far does this spread?" or "How many people does this apply to?". Use it to talk about widespread beliefs, universal truths, or common phenomena across a society. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **普 (pǔ):** This character means "universal," "general," or "widespread." It suggests something that applies to all, not just a select few. Think of it as the "all-encompassing" part of the word. * **遍 (biàn):** This character means "everywhere" or "all over." It can also be a measure word for completing an action from start to finish (e.g., "read it one time through"). It contributes the idea of complete coverage of a space or group. When combined, **普 (universal) + 遍 (all over)** creates a very direct and powerful meaning: something that is found everywhere and applies to all. This is the essence of "universal" and "widespread." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== **普遍 (pǔbiàn)** is a key term for understanding how Chinese culture often analyzes the world through a collective lens. It's frequently used in news, academic writing, and formal discussions to describe social trends, shared values, and public opinion. Using it shows an ability to think about the group, not just the individual. A helpful comparison is to the English word "common." In English, "common" can have a negative connotation, implying something is "ordinary," "low-class," or "unrefined" (e.g., "the common man," "a commoner"). **普遍 (pǔbiàn)** is almost always neutral and descriptive. It simply states a fact about distribution. You wouldn't use 普遍 to call a person "common"; you'd use it to say a //belief// they hold is common. This reflects a focus on describing the state of the collective rather than passing judgment on the quality of an individual or object. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **普遍 (pǔbiàn)** is a versatile word used in both formal and informal contexts to make generalizations. * **As an Adjective:** It directly modifies a noun. * 这是一个**普遍**的看法。 (Zhè shì yīgè **pǔbiàn** de kànfǎ.) - This is a **widespread** view. * 环境污染是一个**普遍**的问题。 (Huánjìng wūrǎn shì yīgè **pǔbiàn** de wèntí.) - Environmental pollution is a **widespread** problem. * **As an Adverb:** Placed before a verb or adjective (often with 地 de, though sometimes omitted), it means "generally," "universally," or "widely." * 大家**普遍**认为... (Dàjiā **pǔbiàn** rènwéi...) - Everyone **generally** believes that... * 产品质量**普遍**提高了。 (Chǎnpǐn zhìliàng **pǔbiàn** tígāo le.) - Product quality has **generally** improved. It's a go-to word on social media and in news reports when discussing trends, from the widespread adoption of new tech to common social anxieties. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 在中国，使用手机支付已经非常**普遍**。 * Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, shǐyòng shǒujī zhīfù yǐjīng fēicháng **pǔbiàn**. * English: In China, using mobile payments has already become extremely widespread. * Analysis: A perfect example of **普遍** describing a modern, nationwide phenomenon. It highlights the vast scope of mobile payment usage. * **Example 2:** * 年轻人对未来的焦虑是一种**普遍**的心态。 * Pinyin: Niánqīngrén duì wèilái de jiāolǜ shì yīzhǒng **pǔbiàn** de xīntài. * English: Anxiety about the future is a common mentality among young people. * Analysis: Here, **普遍** is used to describe a shared psychological state or feeling within a specific demographic (young people). * **Example 3:** * 今年员工的工资**普遍**上涨了。 * Pinyin: Jīnnián yuángōng de gōngzī **pǔbiàn** shàngzhǎng le. * English: This year, employees' salaries have generally increased. * Analysis: This sentence shows **普遍** used as an adverb ("generally" or "across the board") to describe a trend affecting a whole group (employees). * **Example 4:** * 这种观点在学术界并不**普遍**。 * Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng guāndiǎn zài xuéshùjiè bìng bù **pǔbiàn**. * English: This viewpoint is not at all widespread in the academic world. * Analysis: Using **普遍** in the negative is a powerful way to state that something is a niche or minority opinion. * **Example 5:** * 缺乏锻炼是现代都市人**普遍**存在的问题。 * Pinyin: Quēfá duànliàn shì xiàndài dūshìrén **pǔbiàn** cúnzài de wèntí. * English: Lack of exercise is a widespread problem for modern city dwellers. * Analysis: The phrase **普遍存在 (pǔbiàn cúnzài)** means "to exist widely" or "to be prevalent" and is a very common and natural-sounding collocation. * **Example 6:** * 我们需要提高公民**普遍**的法律意识。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào tígāo gōngmín **pǔbiàn** de fǎlǜ yìshí. * English: We need to raise the universal legal awareness of our citizens. * Analysis: This demonstrates a more formal, official usage. **普遍的 (pǔbiàn de)** modifies "legal awareness," implying it should apply to //all// citizens. * **Example 7:** * 他的小说获得了读者**普遍**的好评。 * Pinyin: Tā de xiǎoshuō huòdéle dúzhě **pǔbiàn** de hǎopíng. * English: His novel received universally positive reviews from readers. * Analysis: **普遍的好评 (pǔbiàn de hǎopíng)** means "universal acclaim" or "widespread praise." It's a common phrase in reviews and critiques. * **Example 8:** * 人们**普遍**希望生活能越来越好。 * Pinyin: Rénmen **pǔbiàn** xīwàng shēnghuó néng yuèláiyuè hǎo. * English: People generally hope that life can get better and better. * Analysis: This describes a universal human desire, showing **普遍** used as an adverb to mean "generally" or "by and large." * **Example 9:** * 这个地区的文盲率曾经相当**普遍**，但现在情况好多了。 * Pinyin: Zhège dìqū de wénmánglǜ céngjīng xiāngdāng **pǔbiàn**, dàn xiànzài qíngkuàng hǎo duō le. * English: The illiteracy rate in this region used to be quite widespread, but the situation is much better now. * Analysis: Here, **普遍** is used to describe the prevalence of a negative social condition in the past. * **Example 10:** * 这种设计上的缺陷在旧款手机中很**普遍**。 * Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng shèjì shàng de quēxiàn zài jiù kuǎn shǒujī zhōng hěn **pǔbiàn**. * English: This kind of design flaw is very common in older models of phones. * Analysis: This shows **普遍** used in a technical or product-related context to describe a flaw that affects most units of a particular product line. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **普遍 (pǔbiàn)** and **普通 (pǔtōng)**. They both translate to "common" in English, but they are not interchangeable. * **普遍 (pǔbiàn): Widespread / Universal (describes scope & distribution)** * It describes //how many// people or things share a characteristic. * Correct: 这种看法很**普遍**。 (Zhè zhǒng kànfǎ hěn **pǔbiàn**.) - This viewpoint is **widespread**. * Incorrect: 他是一个很**普遍**的人。 (Tā shì yīgè hěn **pǔbiàn** de rén.) * **普通 (pǔtōng): Ordinary / Regular (describes quality & type)** * It describes something as being not special or of average quality. * Correct: 他是一个很**普通**的人。 (Tā shì yīgè hěn **pǔtōng** de rén.) - He is an **ordinary** person. * Incorrect: 这种看法很**普通**。 (Zhè zhǒng kànfǎ hěn **pǔtōng**.) - This sounds unnatural. You would say the viewpoint is **普遍 (pǔbiàn)**. **Mnemonic:** Think of **普(pǔ)遍(biàn)** as covering a vast //expanse//. Think of **普(pǔ)通(tōng)** as being //thoroughly// average. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[普通]] (pǔtōng) - A crucial distinction. Means "ordinary" or "regular," describing type or quality, not scope. * [[一般]] (yībān) - A near synonym meaning "general" or "common." Often more colloquial than **普遍** and can also mean "so-so" or "average." * [[常见]] (chángjiàn) - Means "commonly seen." It's more literal, often used for things you can physically see or encounter frequently, like common mistakes (常见错误) or common sights. * [[普及]] (pǔjí) - The verb form of the concept. It means "to popularize," "to disseminate," or "to make something universal." It's the //action// of making something **普遍**. * [[流行]] (liúxíng) - Means "popular" or "fashionable." It describes something that is widespread //because// it is currently in style. A trend can be both **流行** and **普遍**. * [[大众]] (dàzhòng) - A noun meaning "the masses" or "the general public." Phenomena described as **普遍** often concern the **大众**. * [[到处]] (dàochù) - An adverb meaning "everywhere." It's more literal about physical location. E.g., "There are people **everywhere**" (到处都是人). **普遍** is more abstract, for ideas and trends.