‘俗语’ (sú yǔ) literally combines 俗 (sú), meaning ‘common,’ ‘vulgar,’ or ‘popular,’ and 语 (yǔ), meaning ‘speech’ or ‘language.’ Together, it refers to traditional, widely circulated sayings that reflect everyday wisdom, cultural values, or practical life experience. Unlike formal proverbs (谚语 yànyǔ) or classical idioms (成语 chéngyǔ), 俗语 tends to be more colloquial, vivid, and sometimes humorous — often passed down orally across generations.

These expressions appear frequently in informal conversation, storytelling, and even modern media to add authenticity or rhetorical force. They may contain metaphors, regional flavor, or references to daily activities — for example, using animals or household objects to illustrate human behavior. While many 俗语 are universally understood across China, some have strong regional roots and may vary in wording or meaning by dialect area.