- 人情世故 rénqíngshìgù ways of the worldworldly wisdom; the ways of the world or the social skills required to get along in society
- 老于世故 lǎoyúshìgù worldly-wiseexperienced in the ways of the world; sophisticated or cynical due to long experience; often carries a negative tone suggesting someone is too calculating or smooth in their dealings
- 不谙世故 bù'ānshìgù naiveto know little of how the world works; unworldly and unsophisticated
- 饱经世故 bǎojīngshìgù well-experiencedexperienced in the ways of the world; having seen much of life and its changes
