How to Write 凡 (fán) — Meaning “ordinary; every; all”

Picture a tiny dot sitting inside a table (几) - that dot is an ordinary thing you see every day, like a cup. Alternatively, think of the dot as a person with a plain appearance, making the character mean "ordinary." This mental image helps connect the shape to the meaning.

Write the left-falling stroke (丿) first, then the horizontal hook (𠃌) to form the frame, and finally the dot (丶) inside the hook. A common mistake is placing the dot too high or outside the frame, so make sure it sits well within the upper-right area. Keep the proportions balanced: the hook should not be too wide or too narrow.

几 has no dot inside and means "how many" or "a few," while 凡 has a dot inside and means "ordinary" or "every." 凤 has a different inner component: 又 (meaning "again") instead of a dot, and it means "phoenix." Visually, remember that 凡's dot is small and simple, unlike 凤's more complex inner part.

凡 appears in common words like 凡是 (every; all) and 平凡 (ordinary), often in formal or written contexts. It is also part of 非凡 (extraordinary), which is used to praise exceptional talent or achievements. Culturally, 凡 appears in idioms like 凡夫俗子 (ordinary people), highlighting the contrast between common and special.

Common words containing 凡 include: 凡是 (fán shì) — every; all; any; 平凡 (píng fán) — ordinary / commonplace; 非凡 (fēi fán) — Extraordinary; remarkable.