俗语
sú yǔ · HSK 7
saying
🗣️ 俗 = common/folk + 语 = speech: the everyday folk speech, a proverb
俗 — person radical 亻 + valley 谷
A semantic-phonetic compound: 亻 (person) gives the meaning and 谷 (gǔ/valley) suggests the sound. Originally referred to the customs and habits of common people living in the valleys, later extending to mean 'common,' 'vulgar,' or 'secular' as opposed to refined or religious.