Correct

平凡 vs 平常

/ píngfán vs píngcháng /
Strokes

Formula

1
平凡的人 (a common person)
2
平常的人 (an ordinary person just like anyone else)
3
平平凡凡
4
平平常常

Definition

平凡 and 平常 both are Adjectives, which means [ordinary; common].

Example

平凡 and 平常, both words mean "ordinary or common".
1) 平常 can be applied to human beings, things and matters while 平凡 is mainly applied to human beings.

2) 平凡 opposite to 伟大 has a sense of or the work fields such as 岗位, 劳动, 世界, 工作, etc.

3) Whereas 平常 is the opposite of 特殊.
平凡的人 (a common person) 平常的人 (an ordinary person just like anyone else)
1
ba
爸爸
shì
píngfán
平凡
  
(
píngcháng
平常
  
)
de
rén
  

My father is an average person.

2
Tuìxiū
退休
hòu
  
,
zhè
wèi
jiāngjūn
将军
guò
zhāo
píngcháng
平常
  
(
píngfán
平凡
  
)
de
shēnghuó
生活
  

The general led an ordinary life after his retirement.

In example ③ 平凡 or 平平凡凡 can be used, but 平常 cannot.If used as an adverbial, 平常 must be reduplicated.
平平凡凡 平平常常
3
píngfán
平凡
  
(
píngpíngfánfán
平平凡凡
  
)
guò
度过
le
shēng
一生
  

He led an ordinary life.

4
píngpíngchángcháng
平平常常
de
guò
度过
le
shēng
一生
  

He led an ordinary life.

When applied tothings other than people, 平常 is used instead of 平凡.
5
Zhège
这个
diànyǐng
电影
hěn
píngcháng
平常
  

The movie is common.

6
Zhè
shì
dùn
hěn
píngcháng
平常
de
fànlái
饭莱
  

This is not a special meal.

7
Zhège
这个
chéngshì
城市
de
jiànzhù
建筑
tài
píngcháng
平常
le
  

The buildings in this city are too common.

平常 also means 平时 (usually or ordinarily)
8
sài
大赛
qián
  
,
píngcháng
平常
yàng
一样
  
,
diǎnr  
一点儿
jǐnzhāng
紧张
  

As usual, he was not nervous before the important game.