faan3泛

Jyutpingfaan3

Yalefaan

Uncommon

Definition

Average; ordinary; lacking any special or outstanding qualities.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

Using 泛 as a standalone adjective in spoken Cantonese is quite rare and often sounds slightly literary or formal. It is much more common to encounter it as part of set phrases like 泛泛之輩 or in specific contexts where it describes something lacking depth or distinction. For everyday speech, native speakers almost always prefer using 普通 or 平凡 instead.

Examples

keoi5佢fan6份jan4人hou2好faan6泛，mou5冇mat1乜go3個jan4人dak6特sik1色。

He is a very average person with no unique characteristics.

ni1呢go3個gai3計waak6劃hou2好faan6泛，m4唔gau3夠kap1吸jan5引lik6力wo5喎。

This plan is quite ordinary and lacks appeal.

Common phrases

faan6泛faan6泛zi1之bui3輩

an average person; a nobody

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the homophone 犯, which means to commit a crime or offend. Also, learners often mistakenly use 泛 as a direct translation for average in all contexts, but it does not carry the same neutral descriptive weight as 普通.