Historically, Chinese society had a well-defined hierarchy. At the top was the emperor and the nobility, followed by scholar-officials, and then the rest of the population. 平民 (píngmín) was the term for this vast majority who held no title or official post. It was a clear and important social distinction. A useful Western comparison is the word “commoner” versus “nobility” in feudal Europe. Both 平民 and “commoner” define a person's status relative to a ruling class. However, in modern usage, 平民 is often closer to the English word “civilian.” Just as “civilian” is used in the West to create a clear distinction from “military personnel,” 平民 is the standard term in China to differentiate from a 军人 (jūnrén), or soldier. This term is less about a collective cultural identity (like 老百姓, lǎobǎixìng, “the old hundred names” or “the common folk”) and more about a neutral, factual classification of social or professional status. Calling someone a 平民 is a statement of fact, while referring to people as 老百姓 often carries a warmer, more “salt-of-the-earth” connotation.
平民 (píngmín) is a common and versatile term used in several key contexts today.