zuk6俗
Jyutpingzuk6
Yalejuhk
Definition
Acknowledged or accepted by the general public; ordinary or popular.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation when used to describe taste or aesthetics, implying something is unrefined, gaudy, or lacking in sophistication. It is frequently used to critique fashion, interior design, or art that relies on overly flashy or cliché elements. While it can mean popular or accessible in academic contexts like 通俗, in everyday speech it almost always functions as a criticism of poor taste.
Examples
Do you think this design is really tacky?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 俗氣, which specifically refers to a person or object having a tacky or kitschy quality. Learners often misuse it to mean simply popular, but using it to describe a successful trend can sound insulting.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
