通俗的(つうぞくてき)

つうぞくてき
na-adjective
popular; common; accessible; lowbrow
formalacademicevaluation
1. popular; accessible; easy to understand
Written or presented in a way that ordinary people can easily understand, as opposed to specialized or academic content.
通俗的(つうぞくてき)な言葉(ことば)で説明(せつめい)する。
Explain in plain, accessible language.
この本(ほん)は科学(かがく)を通俗的(つうぞくてき)に解説(かいせつ)している。
This book explains science in an accessible way.
専門家(せんもんか)からは通俗的(つうぞくてき)すぎると批判(ひはん)された。
It was criticized by experts as being too dumbed down.
2. common; vulgar; lowbrow
Lacking refinement or depth; appealing to mass taste rather than intellectual or artistic merit.
通俗的(つうぞくてき)な小説(しょうせつ)。
A popular novel.
通俗的(つうぞくてき)な趣味(しゅみ)だと笑(わら)われた。
I was laughed at for having lowbrow tastes.
芸術性(げいじゅつせい)よりも通俗的(つうぞくてき)な受(う)けを狙(ねら)った作品(さくひん)だ。
It's a work that aims for popular appeal rather than artistic merit.

Can be either neutral or negative depending on context. In sense 1, it describes making specialized content accessible to a general audience, which can be positive. In sense 2, it implies a lack of depth or sophistication and carries a dismissive tone. The word 通俗(つうぞく) literally means "passing through the common people," suggesting content aimed at the masses.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 大衆的(たいしゅうてき): popular; mass-market — focuses on broad appeal without the negative connotation of lacking depth
  • 庶民的(しょみんてき): common; down-to-earth — implies warmth and relatability rather than intellectual judgment
  • 俗(ぞく)っぽい: vulgar; common — more colloquial and more negative than 通俗的(つうぞくてき)

Related Words

Compare: 庶民的(しょみんてき) (common)
general
Added 2026.5.7 23:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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