俗 sú social customs
social customs; vulgar; unrefined; custom; popular; common
How to remember 俗: 亻 person + 谷 valley = social customs. Every person in the mountain valley still bakes bread for the neighbours at New Year, one of their old social customs.
Component breakdown
俗 = 亻 person + 谷 valley
- 亻 person
- 谷 valley
Every person in the mountain valley still bakes bread for the neighbours at New Year, one of their old social customs.
How it is used
- Bound character with two distinct senses: "custom/tradition" and "vulgar/unrefined" - context tells them apart.
- Custom sense: 风俗 fēngsú and 习俗 xísú both mean "custom/tradition", 俗话说 súhuà shuō "as the saying goes" is a very common spoken opener before quoting a proverb.
- Vulgar sense: 庸俗 yōngsú "tacky/crude" is a real put-down, while 通俗 tōngsú "popular, accessible" (通俗歌曲 tōngsú gēqǔ - pop songs) is neutral or even positive - don't confuse the two.
- 俗气 súqi "tacky, gaudy" (of decor, clothes) is the everyday spoken word for the negative sense.