非凡

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 他取得了非凡的成就。▶ —
   He achieved extraordinary success.
2. 这位艺术家才华非凡。▶ —
   This artist is of extraordinary talent.

Collocations

Mnemonic

非 fēi "not" + 凡 fán "ordinary": not ordinary, i.e. extraordinary, remarkable. Same as the Korean word bi-beom (非凡). It describes being far above the ordinary, standing out as exceptional (非凡的成就 extraordinary achievement, 才华非凡 extraordinary talent). It is the exact opposite of 平凡 (ordinary), formed by prefixing the negative 非 to 凡. 非 means "not" (非法, 除非); 凡 means "ordinary" (平凡, 凡人). Along with 卓越 and 杰出, a top-grade term of praise.

Related

Quick check

1. Why is 非凡 the opposite of 平凡?

   • it prefixes the negative 非 "not" to 凡
   • both characters are different
   • they sound the same
   • they actually mean the same