Meaning
异常 means 'abnormal' or 'unusual,' describing something that deviates from the normal state or expected pattern. It can function as an adjective meaning 'abnormal' or as an adverb meaning 'extremely' or 'exceptionally.' The word combines 异 (different) and 常 (normal/usual) to literally mean 'different from normal.'
Usage
Native speakers use 异常 in both formal and informal contexts. As an adjective, it often describes irregular situations, data, or behavior (异常现象, 异常情况). As an adverb, it intensifies adjectives to mean 'extremely' (异常兴奋 = extremely excited). It's common in technical, medical, and everyday speech when pointing out irregularities.
Examples
- 01这几天天气异常炎热。.The weather has been unusually hot these past few days.
- 02系统检测到异常活动，请重新登录。, .The system has detected abnormal activity, please log in again.
Characters
Common collocations
- 异常现象abnormal phenomenon
- 异常情况abnormal situation
- 异常兴奋extremely excited
- 天气异常abnormal weather
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 异 (different, unusual) with 常 (constant, normal), creating a compound that literally means 'different from what is constant/normal.' This formation follows a common Chinese pattern of combining opposites or contrasts to create new meanings.