Chinese word

流

Pronunciation

Pinyinliú

Meaning

  • verbflow

Example

河水在春天开始流了。hé shuǐ zài chūn tiān kāi shǐ liú le

The river water began to flow in spring.

Illustration for 流 (flow)

More examples

他感冒了，整天在流鼻涕。tā gǎn mào le zhěng tiān zài liú bí tì

He caught a cold and has had a runny nose all day.

Core concept

A stream keeps moving onward instead of staying in one place, carrying water or anything that travels continuously.

Common phrases

  • 流鼻涕liú bí tì

    have a runny nose

  • 流泪liú lèi

    shed tears

Similar words

流动liú dòng: Move steadily from one place to another, especially as a liquid, gas, or group.
流逝liú shì: Go by steadily and cannot be brought back, especially when referring to time.
流传liú chuán: Pass from person to person and become known more widely, as news or rumors do.
流出liú chū: Leave an enclosed place and move outward, especially as liquid or funds do.

Definition in Chinese

不仅指液体的流动，也指信息、时间、情绪等不断传播或推进。bù jǐn zhǐ yè tǐ de liú dòng yě zhǐ xìn xī shí jiān qíng xù děng bú duàn chuán bō huò tuī jìn

Word origin

流 (liú, "flow") combines the water radical with a phonetic part, reflecting its original water-related sense and its later extension to other things that keep moving.

Usage tips

  • English often chooses different verbs for tears, leaking water, broadcasts, and time, while Chinese can use this one common verb across these settings.

Other meanings

  • drainverb
  • currentnoun

Word lists with this word