HSK · Level 52
105 words
Chinese word
俗话
Pronunciation
Pinyinsú huà
Meaning
- nounproverb
Example
俗话说，经验是最好的老师。sú huà shuō jīng yàn shì zuì hǎo de lǎo shī
As the proverb says, experience is the best teacher.
More examples
有句俗话：世上无难事，只怕有心人。yǒu jù sú huà shì shàng wú nán shì zhǐ pà yǒu xīn rén
There is a saying: Nothing in the world is difficult for those who set their minds to it.
Core concept
A compact bit of shared community wisdom that turns experience into a memorable statement.
Common phrases
俗话说sú huà shuō
as the saying goes
有句俗话yǒu jù sú huà
there is a saying
Similar words
俗语sú yǔ: An informal everyday expression or set phrase used in ordinary conversation.
成语chéng yǔ: A traditional fixed expression, often four characters long, rooted in classical tales or texts.
谚语yàn yǔ: A widely shared folk expression that turns everyday experience into a brief lesson.
Definition in Chinese
民间口头上流传的惯用说法，通常简短、生动，用来传递经验、智慧或集体观念，常见于日常对话。mín jiān kǒu tóu shàng liú chuán de guàn yòng shuō fǎ tōng cháng jián duǎn shēng dòng yòng lái chuán dì jīng yàn zhì huì huò jí tǐ guān niàn cháng jiàn yú rì cháng duì huà
Word origin
俗话 (súhuà, "common saying") is formed from 俗 (sú, "popular") and 话 (huà, "speech"), highlighting language shared orally by ordinary people.
Usage tips
- It is especially natural when a speaker connects a present situation with a familiar lesson from daily life, rather than stating a new or technical fact.
Other meanings
- common sayingnoun
- maximnoun