平凡|へいぼんheibon[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounordinary; common; commonplace; mediocre; unremarkable; undistinguished; uneventful
   その模様もようの色いろは実じつに平凡へいぼんなものである。↗

   The colors of the pattern are very ordinary.

• Synonym世間並みせけんなみNeutralBeing like people in general; stresses the social standard, while 「平凡」 stresses having nothing distinctive.
• Synonym人並みひとなみNeutralOn a par with ordinary people, as in 「人並みの生活」 or 「人並みに働く」; 「平凡」 describes something plain and unremarkable.
• Synonym凡庸ぼんようWrittenWritten word for mediocre ability with nothing outstanding; derogatory, unlike the more neutral 「平凡」.
• Synonym中位ちゅういNeutralMedium in size or degree; stresses occupying the middle, not plainness.
• Synonym並大抵なみたいていNeutralUsually negated, as in 「並大抵の努力ではない」, to stress that something is no ordinary feat.
• Synonym普通ふつうNeutralThe everyday word for normal or usual; the most common choice in daily speech, and free of the flat, dull judgment in 「平凡」.
• SynonymありふれたNeutralSeen everywhere and hackneyed; carries a negative nuance of lacking freshness.
• Synonym凡ぼんNeutralAn adverb meaning roughly or on the whole; about rough estimates, not the plainness of 「平凡」.
• Synonym並なみNeutralOrdinary or standard grade, as in 「並の人間」 or 「並盛」; in rankings often one step below 「上」.
• Synonym並々なみなみWrittenUsually negated, as in 「並々ならぬ努力」, to stress that something is far from ordinary.
• Synonym常識的じょうしきてきNeutralSensible and in line with common sense; stresses reasonableness, not plainness.
• Synonym平均的へいきんてきNeutralAverage in level or characteristics, as in 「平均的な家庭」.
• Synonym尋常一様じんじょういちようWrittenFour-character phrase for utterly ordinary; usually negated, as in 「尋常一様ではない」.
• Synonym十人並みじゅうにんなみNeutralAverage in looks or ability, as in 「十人並みの器量」; stresses being middling rather than plain.
• Synonym平俗へいぞくWrittenWritten word for plain and commonplace; rare in modern use — say 「平凡」 in daily life.
• Synonym凡常ぼんじょうWrittenWritten word for ordinary; rarely used today — say 「普通」 instead.
• Synonym凡俗ぼんぞくWrittenWritten and derogatory: mediocre and worldly, used of commonplace people and, adjectivally, of commonplace things.
• Related当たり前あたりまえNeutralStresses that something is natural or to be expected, as in 「当たり前のこと」; also covers the plain, ordinary sense.
• Related尋常じんじょうWrittenWritten word for ordinary; typically used in the negative, as in 「尋常ではない」.
• Related一般的いっぱんてきNeutralGeneral or widespread; stresses prevalence, not mediocrity.
• Related何の変哲もないなんのへんてつもないNeutralSet phrase for something with nothing at all special about it, as in 「何の変哲もない石」.
• RelatedありきたりNeutralHackneyed and seen everywhere, as in 「ありきたりの表現」; it is plainly disparaging, while 「平凡」 mainly says something lacks distinction.
• Related中くらいちゅうくらいNeutralMedium in size or degree; stresses being in the middle, not plainness.
• Related日常的にちじょうてきNeutralEveryday and routine; stresses things happening frequently in daily life rather than being plain.
• Antonym非凡ひぼんWrittenWritten word for exceptional talent far above the ordinary; the direct antonym of 「平凡」.
• Antonym特異とくいWrittenUnique or peculiar, as in 「特異な才能」; the opposite of being ordinary or plain.
• Antonym優秀ゆうしゅうNeutralExcellent in grades or ability, as in 「優秀な学生」; the opposite of 「平凡」.
• Antonym傑出けっしゅつWrittenWritten word for outstanding, exceptional talent, as in 「傑出した人物」; the opposite of 「平凡」.

Use 「平凡」 for something plain and lacking any distinctive quality, as in 「平凡な人生」. For simply normal, choose 「普通」; for being on a level with everyone else, 「人並み」; for hackneyed, 「ありきたり」; for mediocre said with a critical edge, 「凡庸」. For the opposite — extraordinary — use 「非凡」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 優すぐれた点てんや変かわった点てんを持もたない様子ようす。