{{Grammar Box}} 



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. 

== 平常 is used as noun ==

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." 

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 平常 + Verb 

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>平常</em>  不 和 朋友 见面。<span class="trans">I ordinarily don't meet friends.</span>
* 你 <em>平常</em> 用 QQ 聊天 吗？<span class="trans">Do you usually use QQ to chat?</span>
</div>

== 平时 is used as noun ==

When 平时 is used as a noun it is the same as 平常 when it is used as a noun.  

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 平时 + Verb 

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 我们 <em>平时</em> 都 不 在 家 吃饭，我们 在 外面 吃。<span class="trans">Most of the time, we don't eat in the house. We go out to eat.</span>
* 你 <em>平时</em> 会 看 新闻 吗？<span class="trans">Will you watch the news often?</span>
* 我 <em>平时</em> 不 买 这 种 很 便宜 但是 质量 很 差 的 东西。<span class="trans">I don't usually buy this kind of cheap, inferior stuff.</span>
</div>

== 平常 as an Adjective==

When 平常 is used as an adjective, it expresses the meaning of "common." 平时 cannot be used this way.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
平常的 + Noun
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 他 有 一 份 很 <em>平常</em> 的 工作，过 着 很 平常 的 生活。<span class="trans">He has a common job and lives a common lifestyle.</span>
* 这 是 一 种 很 <em>平常</em> 的 玻璃，不 是 什么 钻石。<span class="trans">This is just common glass. It's not a diamond.</span>
</div>

== Example dialog ==

<div class="liju">
* A: 你 <em>平时</em>/<em>平常</em>  喜欢 研究 玉 对 吗？<span class="trans">You often like to study jade, right?</span>
* B: 对 啊。<span class="trans">Correct.</span>
* A: 你 帮 我 看 一下 这 块 玉 怎么 样？<span class="trans">Could you tell me about this piece of jade?</span>
* B: 是 一 块 很 <em>平常</em> 的 玉。<span class="trans">It's a common piece of jade.</span>
</div>

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===
*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (“平常”p. 1051) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (“平时”p. 1053) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]

[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|平时|B2|平时 vs 平常|他平时就喜欢研究玉，他说你的这个不是很少见的玉，只是一种很平常的玉 。|grammar point|ASGJOGGG}}
{{Rel char|平常}}
{{Used for|Expressing frequency}}
{{Used for|Describing things}}
{{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}}
{{Similar|Comparing "changchang" and "jingchang"}}
{{Comparison|Time Words}}