súyǔ: 俗语 - Proverb, Common Saying, Folk Saying

• Keywords: suyu, 俗语, Chinese proverb, Chinese common saying, Chinese folk saying, what is suyu, suyu vs chengyu, Chinese idioms, learn Chinese sayings, colloquial Chinese
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 俗语 (súyǔ), the popular proverbs and common sayings that are the lifeblood of everyday Chinese conversation. Unlike the more formal and classical 成语 (chéngyǔ), a 俗语 is a piece of folk wisdom, often humorous and direct, that offers a window into Chinese culture and values. Learning these sayings will make your Mandarin sound more natural and authentic.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): súyǔ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A popular, colloquial saying, proverb, or adage that originates from common folk wisdom.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 俗语 (súyǔ) as the “street smarts” of the Chinese language. These are the sayings you learn from life experience, not just from books. They are often longer and more sentence-like than four-character idioms (`成语`). While `成语` are like classical literary quotes, `俗语` are like the practical advice your grandparents would give you—memorable, direct, and full of down-to-earth wisdom.

• 俗 (sú): This character means “common,” “popular,” “of the people,” or sometimes “vulgar/unrefined.” In this context, it carries the positive sense of being widespread among ordinary people.
• 语 (yǔ): This character simply means “language,” “speech,” or “saying.”

When combined, 俗语 (súyǔ) literally translates to “common sayings” or “folk speech,” perfectly capturing their origin and nature as expressions of the people.

俗语 are the backbone of colloquial Chinese culture, capturing the collective wisdom, values, and observations of ordinary people over centuries. They are a form of oral tradition, passed down through generations to teach lessons, offer advice, and comment on human nature. A useful comparison in Western culture is the concept of a “proverb” or an “old saying” like “The early bird gets the worm” or “Don't put all your eggs in one basket.” These aren't high literature