普遍

ふへん

universality, ubiquity, omnipresence

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"普遍" (pǔbiàn) means "universal" or "widespread." It describes something that is common or generally applicable across many people, places, or situations.

Common Contexts

It is often used to talk about ideas, phenomena, or conditions that are widely accepted or found everywhere, such as "普遍教育" (universal education) or "普遍存在" (universally exist).

Collocations and Patterns

These collocations emphasize the broad scope or general acceptance of the subject.

Nuances

Using "普遍" implies a high degree of generality but does not mean absolutely without exception. It is more formal and often used in written or formal spoken Chinese rather than casual conversation.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "普遍" with "一般" (yībān), which means "general" or "ordinary" but is less strong in implying universality. "普遍" stresses wide coverage or acceptance.

Example Sentences

This viewpoint is very common among young people.

Universal education is very important for social development.

This problem exists universally in different countries.