随大溜 (suí dà liù) is an idiomatic expression meaning to follow the crowd or go with the flow without independent thought. It is often used to describe someone who does not have their own opinions and simply adopts the majority view or behavior, especially in social or political contexts.
HSK 7, Very Hard
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March 24, 2026
随大溜()
随大溜 (suí dà liù) is an idiomatic expression meaning to follow the crowd or go with the flow without independent thought. It is often used to describe someone who does not have their own opinions and simply adopts the majority view or behavior, especially in social or political contexts.
Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, there is often a strong emphasis on collectivism, where group harmony and consensus are valued. The phrase 随大溜 reflects a cultural critique of those who lack individuality in favor of conforming to group norms, especially seen in social media trends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a flowing river (溜) carrying a group of people (随) downstream. They all go along with the current without questioning where it leads, representing how one might follow the majority opinion mindlessly. The pronunciation 'suí' sounds like 'sway', which reinforces the idea of swaying with the crowd.
About 随大溜
随大溜Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 随大溜
Podcast: 随大溜
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AI Study Notes for 随大溜
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a flowing river (溜) carrying a group of people (随) downstream. They all go along with the current without questioning where it leads, representing how one might follow the majority opinion mindlessly. The pronunciation 'suí' sounds like 'sway', which reinforces the idea of swaying with the crowd.
Usage Notes
This expression is often used in informal contexts to criticize someone for lacking individuality. It can carry a negative connotation, so be cautious when using it in professional settings. The phrase can also be shortened to just '随', but this may lose some nuance.
HSK Study Tips
While this phrase is not a standard HSK vocabulary word, understanding it can help learners grasp idiomatic expressions in everyday conversation. Students should focus on the components of the phrase and how they relate to following trends or popular opinions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, there is often a strong emphasis on collectivism, where group harmony and consensus are valued. The phrase 随大溜 reflects a cultural critique of those who lack individuality in favor of conforming to group norms, especially seen in social media trends.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 随大溜 with similar phrases but miss the connotation of lack of independent thought. For example, saying '我随大溜去' (I follow the crowd to go) sounds incorrect; a more accurate expression might be '我跟随大家的意见' (I follow everyone's opinion).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 随大溜
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Cultural Notes for 随大溜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese society, there is often a strong emphasis on collectivism, where group harmony and consensus are valued. The phrase 随大溜 reflects a cultural critique of those who lack individuality in favor of conforming to group norms, especially seen in social media trends.
Frequently Asked Questions about 随大溜
It means to follow the crowd or to go with the flow without independent thought.
It is generally a negative term, used to criticize someone for lacking their own opinions.
It's best to avoid using it in formal contexts, as it is more suited for casual conversations.
