俗语

sú yǔ

CL 句 jù 条 tiáo

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Noun Rare

Save to list

Definitions

1. common saying
2. proverb
3. colloquial speech

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $49.99 / year

Sign up with Google

Did Google show an error? Sorry about that. Use your email below instead.

Continue with Email

Lifetime for $119.99 Try a practice session

Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item

• 成语 chéng yǔ 成语 chéng yǔ Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation 四字固定短语，较书面；俗语较口语: Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation

Register variants

1 item

• 俚语 lǐ yǔ 俚语 lǐ yǔ slang 俚语更非正式，常用在特定群体: slang

Related words

1 item

• 俗话 sú huà 俗话 sú huà common saying 同指民间流传的通俗语句: common saying

Synonyms

1 item

• 谚语 yàn yǔ 谚语 yàn yǔ proverb 常用近义词，两者均为简短固定语句: proverb

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Don't confuse with 成语: 俗语 are full sentences, while 成语 are mostly four-character set phrases used as building blocks.

Formality

Compared to 谚语, 俗语 leans toward colloquial speech rather than formal written maxims.

Example Sentences

1 shown

俗语 说，滴水穿石。

As the saying goes, constant dripping wears away a stone.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 俗语

• 俗 俗 sú: custom
• 语 语 yǔ: dialect
• 语 语 yù: to tell to