一般般
Everyday phraseCommon
So-so / Nothing special
What does 一般般 mean?
一般般 — A casual evaluation that something is neither very good nor very bad. It often softens a negative opinion.
✓So-so.
✓Just average.
✓Nothing special.
一般般 can be an understated criticism. If a friend recommends a restaurant, calling it 一般般 may politely say you were unimpressed.
Character breakdown
Open each character to see its own meanings and vocabulary links.
Real-world examples
1 · Reviewing a restaurant
A: 那家店怎么样？
nà jiā diàn zěnmeyàng?
A: How was that restaurant?
B: 一般般，味道还行。
yī bān bān, wèidào hái xíng.
B: So-so. The food was okay.
2 · Describing your day
A: 今天过得怎么样？
jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?
A: How was your day?
B: 一般般，有点累。
yī bān bān, yǒudiǎn lèi.
B: So-so. A bit tiring.
How to pronounce 一般般
一般般
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Usage notes
✓Common in informal speech.
✓It can be more negative than a literal “average” rating.
✓还行 often sounds a little more positive.
Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Context lesson: Original Chinese Meaning context lesson; examples written for this site.
Context lesson: Original Chinese Meaning context lesson; examples written for this site.