popular belief; folk saying; common lore
Refers to widely held but unverified beliefs, sayings, or traditions passed down among ordinary people.
This folk belief has been passed down since the Edo period.
That is nothing more than a popular saying.
Compound of 俗 (ぞく, 'common, vulgar') and 伝 (でん, 'tradition, transmission'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used to refer to popular beliefs and sayings.