一般(いっぱん)

いっぱん
noun/no-adjective
general, ordinary, public
See also: 一般的(いっぱんてき) (na-adjective form)
1. general, ordinary, common
What is typical or usual, not specialized or exceptional.
一般的(いっぱんてき)に言(い)えば。
Generally speaking.
一般的(いっぱんてき) = general (na-adjective)
一般(いっぱん)の人(ひと)には難(むずか)しい。
It's difficult for ordinary people.
一般的(いっぱんてき)にはそう考(かんが)えられているが、例外(れいがい)もある。
That's generally how it's understood, but there are exceptions.
2. general public
Ordinary people as opposed to specialists or officials.
一般(いっぱん)の人(ひと)には難(むずか)しい。
It's difficult for ordinary people.
一般(いっぱん)公開(こうかい)されています。
It's open to the public.
この施設(しせつ)は一般(いっぱん)の方(かた)もご利用(りよう)いただけます。
This facility is available to the general public as well.

一般(いっぱん) has two main uses: (1) 'general, ordinary' as opposed to specialized or exceptional, and (2) 'the general public' as opposed to professionals or officials.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 一般(いっぱん)の + noun: ordinary ~
  • 一般(いっぱん)に: generally, in general
  • 一般的(いっぱんてき)に: generally (more common in speech)
  • 一般(いっぱん)公開(こうかい): open to the public
  • 一般(いっぱん)向(む)け: aimed at the general public

COMPOUND WORDS:

  • 一般的(いっぱんてき): general (na-adjective)
  • 一般人(いっぱんじん): ordinary person (as opposed to celebrity or specialist)
  • 一般(いっぱん)常識(じょうしき): common knowledge
  • 一般(いっぱん)企業(きぎょう): ordinary company (non-specialized)

CONTRAST:

  • 普通(ふつう): ordinary, usual (more colloquial and subjective)
  • 一般(いっぱん): general (more formal, used for categories and classifications)

Related Words

Contrast: 普通(ふつう) (ordinary (colloquial))
general
Added 2026.1.9 20:57 · Revised 2026.4.5 15:38
01500/01737_ippan