xísú: 习俗 - Custom, Convention, Tradition

• Keywords: xisu, 习俗, Chinese customs, Chinese traditions, social conventions in China, festival customs, what are Chinese xisu, local customs, Chinese culture, tradition meaning, custom vs habit
• Summary: The Chinese word 习俗 (xísú) refers to the customs, traditions, and social conventions that are deeply embedded in a culture. Understanding 习俗 is essential for anyone learning Chinese, as it provides the key to navigating social situations, festivals like Chinese New Year, and regional differences with respect and cultural awareness. This page explores the meaning of 习俗, how it differs from a personal habit (习惯, xíguàn), and its role in modern Chinese society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xísú
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A social custom, convention, or established practice of a group or society.
• In a Nutshell: 习俗 (xísú) are the unwritten rules and shared practices that define a community's way of life. Think of them as the collective habits of a society, passed down through generations. They govern how people celebrate holidays, conduct weddings, show respect, and interact with one another. While a personal habit belongs to one person, a 习俗 belongs to a whole group of people, be it a village, a region, or an entire country.

• 习 (xí): This character means “to practice” or “habit.” The top part (羽) means “feathers,” and it originally depicted a young bird repeatedly flapping its wings to learn how to fly. It represents learning through repetition until something becomes second nature.
• 俗 (sú): This character means “common,” “popular,” or “of the people.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and 谷 (gǔ), meaning “valley,” on the right. Together, they suggest the ways of the common people living in a community.
• Combined Meaning: The two characters combine literally to mean “practiced by the common people.” This perfectly captures the essence of 习俗: a set of practices that have become common and standard within a society through long-term repetition.

In Chinese culture, 习俗 are more than just quaint traditions; they are the threads that weave the social fabric together. They reinforce core cultural values like filial piety (孝, xiào), social harmony (和谐, héxié), and respect for community. A useful comparison is to the Western concept of “tradition” vs. “custom.” While a “tradition” in the West can be very personal (e.g., “Our family tradition is to eat pizza on Fridays”), a 习俗 is almost always collective and carries a stronger sense of social expectation. For example, giving red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) during Chinese New Year isn't just a fun family tradition; it's a deeply ingrained 习俗 that fulfills social obligations of good fortune and respect between generations. To ignore a major 习俗 can be seen as disrespectful or ignorant of the local culture. This is why the famous proverb 入乡随俗 (rù xiāng suí sú)—“When you enter a village, follow its customs” (the Chinese equivalent of “When in Rome…”)—is so important.

The term 习俗 is used frequently in discussions about culture, travel, and social norms. It is a slightly formal word, suitable for describing societal-level behaviors.

• Discussing Festivals: You'll often hear about 春节习俗 (Spring Festival customs) or 中秋节习俗 (Mid-Autumn Festival customs).
• Regional Differences: People often talk about 地方习俗 (local customs) or 南方/北方习俗 (Southern/Northern customs), as practices can vary dramatically across China.
• Weddings and Funerals: These major life events are governed by a complex set of 婚礼习俗 (wedding customs) and 葬礼习俗 (funeral customs).
• Changing Times: People might discuss how some 旧习俗 (old customs) are fading away, or criticize certain 坏习俗 (bad customs) like lavish spending on weddings.

• Example 1:
  • 吃月饼、赏月是中秋节的传统习俗。
  • Pinyin: Chī yuèbǐng, shǎngyuè shì Zhōngqiūjié de chuántǒng xísú.
  • English: Eating mooncakes and admiring the moon are traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of how 习俗 is used to describe established festival practices.
• Example 2:
  • 每个地方都有自己独特的风俗习俗。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge dìfāng dōu yǒu zìjǐ dútè de fēngsú xísú.
  • English: Every place has its own unique customs and traditions.
  • Analysis: Here, 习俗 is used with the near-synonym 风俗 (fēngsú) to emphasize the unique, local nature of these practices.
• Example 3:
  • 到一个新的国家，我们应该尊重当地的习俗。
  • Pinyin: Dào yí ge xīn de guójiā, wǒmen yīnggāi zūnzhòng dāngdì de xísú.
  • English: When we go to a new country, we should respect the local customs.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the practical importance of understanding 习俗 for travelers and foreigners.
• Example 4:
  • 婚礼的习俗在南方和北方有很大的不同。
  • Pinyin: Hūnlǐ de xísú zài nánfāng hé běifāng yǒu hěn dà de bùtóng.
  • English: Wedding customs are very different in the south and the north.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 习俗 can be used to compare regional variations within China.
• Example 5:
  • 随着社会的发展，一些旧的习俗正在慢慢消失。
  • Pinyin: Suízhe shèhuì de fāzhǎn, yìxiē jiù de xísú zhèngzài mànmàn xiāoshī.
  • English: With the development of society, some old customs are slowly disappearing.
  • Analysis: This shows how the word can be used to discuss social change and the evolution of traditions.
• Example 6:
  • 在中国，春节给孩子压岁钱是一个很重要的习俗。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, Chūnjié gěi háizi yāsuìqián shì yí ge hěn zhòngyào de xísú.
  • English: In China, giving children lucky money during Spring Festival is a very important custom.
  • Analysis: This points to a specific, well-known 习俗 that is central to a major holiday.
• Example 7:
  • 他对中国的民俗习俗非常感兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì Zhōngguó de mínsú xísú fēicháng gǎn xìngqù.
  • English: He is very interested in China's folk customs.
  • Analysis: Here, 习俗 is paired with 民 (mín - “folk” or “people”) to specify folk customs.
• Example 8:
  • 入乡随俗，我们还是按照当地的习俗来办吧。
  • Pinyin: Rù xiāng suí sú, wǒmen háishì ànzhào dāngdì de xísú lái bàn ba.
  • English: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Let's just handle it according to the local customs.
  • Analysis: This uses the famous idiom and then clarifies its meaning with the word 习俗.
• Example 9:
  • 有些人认为重男轻女是一种需要改变的坏习俗。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén rènwéi zhòngnánqīngnǚ shì yì zhǒng xūyào gǎibiàn de huài xísú.
  • English: Some people believe that valuing men over women is a bad custom that needs to be changed.
  • Analysis: This shows that 习俗 is a neutral term and can be modified with adjectives like “bad” (坏) to describe outdated or harmful practices.
• Example 10:
  • 了解不同文化的习俗可以帮助我们避免误会。
  • Pinyin: Liáojiě bùtóng wénhuà de xísú kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen bìmiǎn wùhuì.
  • English: Understanding the customs of different cultures can help us avoid misunderstandings.
  • Analysis: A general statement on the value of cross-cultural communication, a key reason to learn the word 习俗.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 习俗 (xísú) with 习惯 (xíguàn). They both involve “practice” and “habit,” but the distinction is crucial.

• 习俗 (xísú): A societal custom. It belongs to a group, community, or culture.
• 习惯 (xíguàn): A personal habit. It belongs to an individual.

Think of it this way: The whole country has the 习俗 of eating dumplings for Chinese New Year. But you have the 习惯 of drinking coffee every morning. Incorrect Usage: `*` 我每天早上跑步是一个好习俗。 (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang pǎobù shì yí ge hǎo xísú.) `*` My running every morning is a good custom. Why it's wrong: Running in the morning is your personal routine, not a societal tradition. Correct Version: `*` 我每天早上跑步是一个好习惯。 (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang pǎobù shì yí ge hǎo xíguàn.) `*` My running every morning is a good habit.

• 习惯 (xíguàn) - A personal habit. The individual-level counterpart to the societal 习俗.
• 传统 (chuántǒng) - Tradition. A broader and more abstract concept than 习俗. 传统 can refer to an entire heritage of thought, art, or philosophy, while 习俗 refers to specific, observable practices.
• 风俗 (fēngsú) - Custom. Very close in meaning to 习俗 and often used interchangeably. 风俗 can sometimes put a little more emphasis on local or folk customs.
• 礼节 (lǐjié) - Etiquette; decorum. The specific rules of polite behavior that often make up a part of a 习俗. For example, the 习俗 is to give a gift, but the 礼节 dictates how you give and receive it (e.g., with two hands).
• 规矩 (guīju) - Rule; established practice. Can refer to a 习俗, but often implies a more rigid set of rules, whether for a family, a company, or a social group.
• 文化 (wénhuà) - Culture. The overarching system of beliefs, values, and practices of which 习俗 is a key component.
• 入乡随俗 (rù xiāng suí sú) - A famous idiom meaning “When entering a village, follow its customs”; the equivalent of “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” It directly relates to respecting local 习俗.
• 民俗 (mínsú) - Folk customs. A more specific term for the customs of the common people, often related to rural life and folklore.