俗语

sú yǔ

CL 句 jù 条 tiáo

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Noun Rare

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Definitions

1. common saying
2. proverb
3. colloquial speech

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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