‘通俗’ (tōng sú) is an adjective meaning ‘popular,’ ‘accessible,’ or ‘colloquial.’ It combines 通 (tōng), which conveys ‘common,’ ‘widespread,’ or ‘understood by all,’ and 俗 (sú), meaning ‘common people,’ ‘everyday,’ or ‘folk.’ Together, they describe language, content, or style that is easy to understand and intended for general audiences—not specialized, academic, or overly formal. It often appears in contexts like media, education, and publishing, where clarity and broad appeal matter.

The term carries a neutral-to-positive connotation: it praises communicative effectiveness, not simplicity for its own sake. You’ll see it modifying nouns like ‘language’ (语言), ‘explanation’ (解释), or ‘literature’ (文学). While it can sometimes imply ‘lacking sophistication’ in critical contexts, this nuance is rare and highly dependent on tone and setting—most commonly, it simply signals approachability and inclusivity.