普通 vs. 普段

Buntaro said:

I learned something yesterday about a Japanese word, I was quite surprised, and I thought I would share it with everyone.

I was attempting to translate this sentence into Japanese:

"Where do you usually have lunch?"

I came up with:

普通どこで昼食を食べますか？

But I was told that that the word of choice for "usually" is not 普通 (futsuu) but 普段 (fudan). I have been saying 普通 my entire adult life, so this came as a surprise.

(I'd also like to run this by everyone and see if everyone agrees.)

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[用法]普通・[用法]普段・[用法]通常

「普通（普段・通常）は六時半に起きる」のように、へいぜいの意では相通じて用いられる。

「普通」は意味の範囲が広く、「どこにでも普通に生えている草」のように、ありふれている、珍しくないの意、「ごく普通の子」「普通科」のように、特に変わりがない・平均的・一般的なの意に使われる。これらは「普段」「通常」は使えない。

「普段」は、常日ごろの意に重点があり、「普段の力を出せた」「普段の心がけの問題だ」などでは「普通」「通常」は使えない。

「通常」は文章語的。いつもどおりで特別の事情がないこと・場合をいう。「勤務時間は通常九時から五時までとする」は、「普通」も使えるが、特別の事情があれば変わることもあるという含みも込められている。

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Normally and typically are often used interchangeably to describe something that is expected or usual. However, there is a subtle difference between the two terms. Normally implies a standard or common occurrence, while typically suggests a general pattern or tendency. In essence, normally refers to what is considered the norm, while typically refers to what is commonly observed. Both words convey a sense of predictability and consistency, but typically may allow for more variation or exceptions.

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mdchachi said:

Uh oh we forgot to consider typically.

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