Comparing "pubian" and "putong"
普遍 and 普通 are similar in the fact that both are adjectives and used in informal or formal settings. Yet, beyond this because they have a significantly different meaning (普遍 means “universal”，“general”， or “common”, versus 普通 which means “ordinary” or “average”) and as such used in different contexts to convey different meanings.
| 普遍 (pǔbiàn) | 普通 (pǔtōng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | universal, general, common | ordinary, average |
| Part of Speech | adjective | adjective |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
