Meaning:

ordinary; commonplace; all; altogether

Origin:

这是最早的“盘”字，像一个盘子的形状，后来本义不存在了，多用于“大都”、“凡是、概括”的意思，又引申为“平常”、“平凡”。

This is the earliest form of the character “盘” (plate), as it resembles the shape of a plate. Over time, it lost this meaning, and now means mostly, all, as well as normal and ordinary.

Words:

   凡夫俗子 (fán fū sú zǐ): mortal

   凡庸       (fányōng): commonplace; ordinary

   凡是      (fánshì): every; any; all

   凡事      ( fán shì): everything

   平凡      (píngfán): ordinary

Examples:

1. 谁说凡夫俗子不能改变世界?

    Shuí shuō fán fū sú zǐ bù néng gǎibiàn shìjiè

    Who says that ordinary people can’t change the world?

2. 她是一个长相很平凡的女孩。

    Tā shì yī ge zhǎngxiàng hěn pín fán de nǚhái

    She is a very common-looking girl.