HSK · Level 22
135 words
Chinese word
俗话说
Pronunciation
Pinyinsú huà shuō
Meaning
- idiomas the saying goes
Example
俗话说，早起的鸟儿有虫吃。sú huà shuō záo qǐ de niǎor yǒu chóng chī
As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm.
More examples
俗话说，病从口入。sú huà shuō bìng cóng kǒu rù
As the saying goes, illness enters through the mouth.
Core concept
A voice from common experience introduces a saying that carries a general lesson.
Common phrases
有句俗话说yǒu jù sú huà shuō
there is a common saying
Similar words
常言道cháng yán dào: Introduces an old proverb or teaching with a set phrase meaning that people have long said it.
古人云gǔ rén yún: Begins a short quotation of the words of ancient people with an old-fashioned expression.
Definition in Chinese
用来引出广为流传的谚语或经验性说法，表示普遍的道理或生活经验。yòng lái yǐn chū guǎng wèi liú chuán de yàn yǔ huò jīng yàn xìng shuō fǎ biǎo shì pǔ biàn de dào lǐ huò shēng huó jīng yàn
Word origin
The idiom combines 俗 (sú, "customary") + 话 (huà, "speech") + 说 (shuō, "say") to present the following wisdom as something people commonly say.
Usage tips
- The expression often gives a broad observation a familiar social frame, which helps it sound like common wisdom instead of a speaker's private opinion.