Comparing "pingshi" and "pingchang"
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\r\n\r\n平时 (píngshí) and 平常 (píngcháng) look very similar (after all, they do start with 平!), and they have similar meanings of "often", but they have pretty different grammatical uses. \r\n== 平常 is used as noun ==\r\n平常 can be used as a noun. It means "in ordinary times:, as in "ordinary times I usually meet with my friends after school." \r\n=== Structure ===\r\n
\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n
- 我 平常 不 和 朋友 见面。I ordinarily don't meet friends.
- 你 平常 用 QQ 聊天 吗？Do you usually use QQ to chat?
\r\n== 平时 is used as noun ==\r\nWhen 平时 is used as a noun it is the same as 平常 when it is used as a noun. \r\n=== Structure ===\r\n
\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n
- 我们 平时 都 不 在 家 吃 饭，我们 在 外面 吃。Most of the time, we don't eat in the house. We go out to eat.
- 你 平时 会 看 新闻 吗？Will you watch the news often?
- 我 平时 不 买 这 种 很 便宜 但是 质量 很 差 的 东西。I don't usually buy this kind of cheap, inferior stuff.
\r\n== 平常 as an adjective==\r\nWhen 平常 is used as an adjective, it expresses the meaning of "common." 平时 cannot be used this way.\r\n=== Structure ===\r\n
平常的 + Noun
\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n
- 他 有 一 份 很 平常 的 工作，过 着 很 平常 的 生活。He has a common job and lives a common lifestyle.
- 这 是 一 种 很 平常 的 玻璃，不 是 什么 钻石。This is just common glass. It's not a diamond.
\r\n== Example dialog ==\r\n
- A: 你 平时/平常 喜欢 研究 玉 对 吗？You often like to study jade, right?
- B: 对 啊。Correct.
- A: 你 帮 我 看 一下 这 块 玉 怎么 样？Could you tell me about this piece of jade?
- B: 是 一 块 很 平常 的 玉。It's a common piece of jade.
\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (“平常”p. 1051) →buy
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (“平时”p. 1053) →buy\r\n
