HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
to disseminate
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
to circulate or spread
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
to move or drift
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
to degenerate
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
to banish or send into exile
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
stream of water or sth resembling one
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
class, rate or grade
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
流
liú
to flow, to drift, to circulate; class
HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1621, Medium
liú(liu2) T2
1to flow
2to disseminate
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March 24, 2026
流liú(liu2)
The character 流 (liú) primarily means 'to flow' or 'to circulate.' It is commonly used in contexts such as water flowing in a river, information spreading among people, or even trends circulating in society. Additionally, it can refer to classes or grades in certain contexts, adding a layer of meaning related to categorization.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#1621DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water symbolizes life and movement. The concept of 流 is often seen in traditional poetry, reflecting how ideas and emotions flow through life, similar to the flow of a river.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river (the radical 水 meaning water) flowing freely. You can visualize the water as it moves along, symbolizing the character 流. To remember the pronunciation 'liú,' think of a little 'li' floating down this river, drifting along with the current.
Meanings of 流
liú(liu2)
1to flow
2to disseminate
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 流
流Simplified
10Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1621Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 流
Podcast: 流
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AI Study Notes for 流
Quick Contrast
流 (liú) vs 走 (zǒu) — use 流 for continuous movement like flowing water, while 走 emphasizes walking or moving from one place to another.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river (the radical 水 meaning water) flowing freely. You can visualize the water as it moves along, symbolizing the character 流. To remember the pronunciation 'liú,' think of a little 'li' floating down this river, drifting along with the current.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 流 with similar-sounding verbs. It's important to note that 流 is more about movement or circulation rather than a static state. Common collocations include 流水 (flowing water) and 流行 (fashion or trend), and it is generally used in informal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
While 流 is not a specific HSK level word, it connects well with basic verbs related to movement and states. Students should focus on its usages in phrases and its interactions with other characters like 行 (to walk) and 动 (to move) for better comprehension.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water symbolizes life and movement. The concept of 流 is often seen in traditional poetry, reflecting how ideas and emotions flow through life, similar to the flow of a river.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly use 流 when they mean to say 'stay' or 'remain,' as in 'stay in place' (it should be 留 liú instead). Additionally, confusing 流行 (trendy) with other terms like 热 (hot) can lead to miscommunication.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 流
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Grammar Patterns of 流
流 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Family therapy showed us how to communicate with each other.
5
还有其他形式的民众骚乱，最出名的是足球流氓行为。
huán yǒu qí tā xíng shì de mín zhòng sāo luàn， ， zuì chū míng de shì zú qiú liú máng háng。
There are other forms of civil disorder — most notably, football hooliganism.
6
当时自行车是英国最流行的交通工具。
dāng shí zì háng chē shì yīng guó zuì liú háng de jiāo tōng gōng jù。
The bicycle reigned supreme as Britain's most popular mode of transport.
7
蜜蜂之间所用的交流方式是昆虫中最为复杂的方式之一。
mì fēng zhī jiān suǒ yòng de jiāo liú fāng shì shì kūn chóng zhōng zuì wéi fù zá de fāng shì zhī yī。
Honeybees use one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any insect.
8
约翰尼和盖伊是英国最了不起的、还未被公众认可的流行歌曲创作者。
yuē hàn ní hé gài yī shì yīng guó zuì le bù qǐ de、 、 huán wèi bèi gōng zhòng rèn kě de liú háng gē qū chuàng zuò。
Johnny and Guy are the greatest unacknowledged pop songwriters in Britain.
9
流亡者被切断了与家乡的所有联系。
liú wáng zhě bèi qiē duàn le yǔ jiā xiāng de suǒ yǒu lián xì。
The exiles had been cut off from all contact with their homeland.
10
这条河水流湍急，变幻莫测。
zhè tiáo hé shuǐ liú tuān jí， ， biàn huàn mò。
The current of the river is fast flowing and treacherous.
Cultural Notes for 流
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, water symbolizes wisdom and adaptability. The character 流, meaning 'to flow', reflects the idea of being flexible and moving with circumstances, much like water in nature.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, water symbolizes life and movement. The concept of 流 is often seen in traditional poetry, reflecting how ideas and emotions flow through life, similar to the flow of a river.
Word Family of 流
Compounds2
鎏liu2pure gold
瑬
Words Containing This Character20
流liúto flow
交流jiāoliúto exchange
流行liúxíngto propagate
流通liútōngto circulate
流血liúxuèto bleed
流氓liúmángrogue
一流yīliútop quality
流感liúgǎnflu
流动liúdòngto flow流動
主流zhǔliúmain stream (of a river)
潮流cháoliútide
流浪liúlàngto wander
流放exile
流泪liúlèito shed tears流淚
流量liúliàngrate
流浪汉tramp流浪漢
流程liúchéngcourse
流传liúchuánto spread流傳
电流electric current電流
河流héliúriver
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鎏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 流
Some common phrases that include 流 (liú) are '流行' (liúxíng), meaning 'popular', and '流动' (liúdòng), meaning 'to flow' or 'mobile'. These phrases illustrate how 流 can be used in various contexts, emphasizing movement and popularity.
流 (liú) and 走 (zǒu) both refer to movement, but they have different connotations. 流 emphasizes a flowing or circulating motion, often used for liquids or information, while 走 focuses more on walking or leaving a place. Understanding the nuance can help in using these words accurately in conversation.
流 (liú) means 'to flow' in Chinese. It can also refer to the concepts of disseminating or circulating information, as well as moving or drifting in a physical sense. Additionally, it can imply degeneration or the act of banishing someone.
You can use 流 (liú) in sentences to describe movement or flow. For example, '水流得很快' (Shuǐ liú dé hěn kuài) means 'The water flows very quickly.' It can also be used in contexts related to information, like '新闻流传得很快' (Xīnwén liúchuán dé hěn kuài), meaning 'The news spreads quickly.'
You can say 流水 (liú shuǐ) to mean 'flowing water' or 流行音乐 (liú xíng yīn yuè) to denote 'popular music.'
Not inherently, but in certain contexts, it can imply degeneration, as in a decline in quality or standards.
While generally informal, it can be used in semi-formal contexts, especially when discussing trends or classes.
