庸俗 (yōng sú) is an adjective meaning 'vulgar' or 'banal' — describing things that lack refinement, originality, or cultural depth. The character 庸 means 'commonplace', 'mediocre', or 'unremarkable', while 俗 means 'common', 'popular', or 'worldly'. Together, they intensify the sense of something being not just ordinary, but coarsely so — often implying poor taste, shallow thinking, or excessive focus on base desires. It carries a distinctly negative, judgmental tone and is frequently used in literary, critical, or intellectual contexts.

This word commonly modifies nouns like 趣味 (taste), 行为 (behavior), or 文化 (culture), and appears in critiques of mass media, advertising, entertainment, or social trends perceived as lacking substance or dignity. It’s rarely used neutrally — even when describing widespread phenomena, it conveys disapproval. While related to words like 低俗 (lowbrow), 庸俗 emphasizes dullness and mediocrity more than explicit offensiveness.