普遍 pǔ biàn
“universal; general; widespread”
adjective, adverbial adjectiveHSK 4 · 2021 list level 3
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
普遍 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1561: 普遍 pǔbiàn — Level 4; official annotation 4 (形). PDF page 119
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 普遍
普遍 describes something that is widespread, general, or shared by most people or places — not rare or special. It works as an adjective before nouns (普遍问题、普遍现象) or before verbs like 认为/存在/使用 to mean "widely/generally". Typical patterns are "很普遍" as a predicate and "普遍认为……".
例句Example sentences
- 现在在网上买东西很普遍。xiàn zài zài wǎng shàng mǎi dōng xi hěn pǔ biàn.Nowadays buying things online is very common.
- 这是一个很普遍的现象。zhè shì yí gè hěn pǔ biàn de xiàn xiàng.This is a very widespread phenomenon.
- 大家普遍认为学外语很重要。dà jiā pǔ biàn rèn wéi xué wài yǔ hěn zhòng yào.People generally think learning a foreign language is important.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗他是一个很普遍的人。
✓他是一个很普通的人。
普遍 describes something shared by many people, but a single person who is not special is 普通 (ordinary).