[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Abstract-Concepts \ #Function-Words # 凡 fán ordinary ## Components [[几 (jī)]] [[几 jǐ]] [[丶 (zhǔ)]] ## Meaning Today, the character 凡 (fán) is primarily used to mean: 1. **Ordinary, Common**: 凡 (fán) - Ordinary, common For example: - 平凡 (píng fán) - Ordinary - 凡人 (fán rén) - Ordinary person, mortal ## History Originally, the character 凡 (fán) represented a utensil for holding food, similar to a plate or a dish. In oracle bone script, it was written as "凡," which can be seen from its resemblance to the shape of a plate. In ancient inscriptions, the term "盘庚" was written as "凡庚." However, over time, the original meaning of "plate" gradually disappeared, and 凡 came to be used to mean "ordinary" or "common." The famous writer Lu Xun wrote a novel titled "平凡的世界" (The Ordinary World), which has moved countless readers. Originally, 凡 was a pictographic character representing a utensil for holding or serving food. It later evolved to mean "ordinary" or "common." ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[凡 fán - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[凡 fán - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[凡 fán - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[凡 fán - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[凡 fán - reg.svg]]