Japanese word

主流

Pronunciation

Romajishuryū

Meaning

  • nounmainstream

Example

その考え方は今の主流です。so no kanga e kata wa ima no shu ryū de su

That way of thinking is now mainstream.

Illustration for 主流 (mainstream)

More examples

紙の本より電子書籍が主流になりつつあります。kami no hon yo ri den shi sho seki ga shu ryū ni na ri tsu tsu a ri ma su

E-books are becoming more mainstream than printed books.

Core concept

Describes the current or dominant direction in a field, society, or group, rather than a minor or alternative one.

Common phrases

  • 主流になるshu ryū ni na ru

    become mainstream

  • 主流から外れるshu ryū ka ra hazu re ru

    fall outside the mainstream

  • 主流に乗るshu ryū ni no ru

    join the mainstream

Similar words

本流honryū: The main and established direction within a field, movement, or tradition.
大勢ōzei: The general trend or opinion held by most people in a group or society.

Definition in Japanese

ある分野や社会で、多くの人に支持され中心となっている考え方や傾向。a ru bun ya ya sha kai de ō ku no hito ni shi ji sa re chū shin to na tte i ru kanga e kata ya kei kō

Word origin

The compound 主流 (shuryū) is formed from 主 (shu, "main") and 流 (ryū, "flow"), extending the image of a main flow to a dominant trend.

Usage tips

  • In English, mainstream often modifies a noun, while Japanese 主流 (shuryū) commonly functions as a noun for the dominant trend itself.

Opposites

  • 非主流hishuryūnon-mainstreamnoun
  • 少数派shōsūhaminoritynoun

Related words

  • 主流化shuryūkamainstreamingnoun

Word lists with this word