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Kotomora

常

usual, ordinary, normal, common, regular, continually, always, long-lasting

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

  • つね
  • とこ-

Nanori

  • とき
  • のぶ
  • ひ
  • ひた

Meaning

常 centers on what is constant and expected: the usual, ordinary, or normal state of things. It extends naturally to ideas of regularity, continuity, and long-lasting habits.

Most common words using 常

24 of 377
  • 非常ひじょう
    N3

    emergency

  • 通常つうじょう
    N2

    usual; ordinary; normal; regular; general; common

  • 常につねに
    N3

    always; constantly; at all times; habitually

  • 異常いじょう
    N3

    abnormal; unusual; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon

  • 日常にちじょう
    N3

    everyday; daily; ordinary; usual; routine; regular

  • 常識じょうしき
    N3

    common sense; good sense; common knowledge; general knowledge; common practice; accepted practice; social etiquette

  • 正常せいじょう
    N2

    normal; regular

  • 常つね

    usual state of things

  • 常時じょうじ

    usually; ordinarily; always

  • 常連じょうれん

    regular customer; regular patron; regular visitor; frequenter

  • 常用じょうよう
    N1

    habitual use; daily use

  • 尋常じんじょう

    common; usual

  • 常務じょうむ

    managing director; executive director

  • 常駐じょうちゅう

    permanent stationing; staying permanently

  • 非常識ひじょうしき
    N3

    lack of common sense; thoughtlessness; senselessness; irrationality; absurdity

  • 平常へいじょう
    N1

    normal; usual; ordinary; everyday

  • 常設じょうせつ

    standing (committee); permanent (exhibit)

  • 非常勤ひじょうきん
    N1

    part-time work

  • 恒常こうじょう

    constancy; permanence

  • 常任じょうにん

    standing; regular; permanent

  • 常習じょうしゅう

    custom; common practice; habit

  • 常勤じょうきん
    N1

    full-time employment

  • 常軌じょうき

    normal course (of action); proper course; regular way

  • 経常けいじょう

    ordinary

Explore all words using 常 →

Study

Etymology

常 originally depicted a skirt or cloth (巾) with a phonetic element above, later used to express constancy and regularity. The modern form retains 巾 at the bottom, but the upper part has been simplified.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part looks like a repeated pattern (⺌ over 口 over 冖), and the bottom 巾 is a cloth. Imagine a cloth with a regular, unchanging pattern—always the same, usual and ordinary.

Reading mnemonic

For ジョウ, picture a regular, ordinary Joe wearing the same patterned cloth every day: Joe -> ジョウ, and his routine is always the same.