俗

sú

亻 + 谷

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

sú (adjective) common; popular

sú (noun) custom; convention

sú (adjective) vulgar; coarse

sú (adjective) secular

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 谷 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 谷

About

俗 is a phono-semantic compound combining the person radical 亻, indicating a human connection, with the phonetic 谷. Originally it referred to the common habits, conventions, and standard practices of ordinary people in society. Over time, the meaning broadened to include the worldly or secular, in contrast to the sacred or refined, and eventually developed a pejorative connotation, used to describe things or behaviors as vulgar, unrefined, or overly common.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一种习俗。

Zhè shì yī zhǒng xísú.

This is a custom.

我不喜欢这种俗气的颜色。

Wǒ bù xǐhuān zhè zhǒng súqì de yánsè.

I don't like this vulgar color.

他的笑话有点俗。

Tā de xiàohuā yǒudiǎn sú.

His joke is a bit tacky.

我们要尊重当地的风俗。

Wǒmen yào zūnzhòng dāngdì de fēngsú.

We must respect local customs.

他的作品雅俗共赏。

Tā de zuòpǐn yǎ sú gòng shǎng.

His works appeal to both refined and popular tastes.

这部小说通俗易懂，很受欢迎。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō tōngsú yì dǒng, hěn shòu huānyíng.

This novel is easy to understand and very popular.

超凡脱俗是很多人的追求。

Chāofán tuōsú shì hěn duō rén de zhuīqiú.

Transcending the mundane is the pursuit of many people.

他脱离了俗务，专心修行。

Tā tuōlí le súwù, zhuānxīn xiūxíng.

He freed himself from worldly affairs to devote himself to spiritual practice.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 谷

俗