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交流 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
交流jiāoliúto exchangeHSK 4, n, 16 strokes, rank #2458, Medium
交流jiāoliúexchangeHSK 4, n, 16 strokes, rank #2458, Medium
交流jiāoliúcommunicationHSK 4, n, 16 strokes, rank #2458, Medium
交流jiāoliúinteractionHSK 4, n, 16 strokes, rank #2458, Medium
交流jiāoliúto have social contact (with sb)HSK 4, n, 16 strokes, rank #2458, Medium
jiāoliú(jiao1liu2)jiao liu T1
  1. 1to exchange
  2. 2exchange
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March 24, 2026

交流jiāoliú(jiao1liu2)

交流 (jiāo liú) refers to the act of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings between individuals or groups. It is commonly used in contexts such as social interactions, discussions, and educational exchanges, highlighting the importance of communication in effective relationships.

Strokes16Frequency#2458DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, 交流 is vital not only for personal relationships but also in business, where building connections through communication is often emphasized. Events such as networking gatherings are designed specifically for 交流 to foster professional relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine two people (交) passing a message (流) back and forth like a flowing river. The flowing river symbolizes ongoing communication and connection, which can help you remember both the pronunciation 'jiāo liú' and the meaning of 'exchange' or 'communication'.

Meanings of 交流

jiāoliú(jiao1liu2)
1to exchange
2exchange
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 交流

交流Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2458Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 交流

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Podcast: 交流

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AI study notes for 交流

Quick Contrast

沟通 (gōutōng): use 交流 (jiāoliú) for informal or broad exchanges, while 沟通 (gōutōng) emphasizes deeper understanding and clarity in communication.

Usage Notes

Be aware that 交流 is often used in formal contexts, such as business meetings or academic settings, and may not be as common in casual conversations. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with '沟通' (gōu tōng), which implies a deeper level of communication; instead, use 交流 for general exchanges.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 4 word, 交流 connects with other words related to communication and social interaction, such as 知识 (zhī shi, knowledge) and 朋友 (péng yǒu, friend). Students should focus on using it in sentences that involve sharing ideas or experiences to reinforce its practical application.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 交流 with 传递 (chuán dì, to convey), using it inappropriately in contexts that don't emphasize interaction. For example, saying '我想交流这个消息' (Wǒ xiǎng jiāo liú zhège xiāoxi) is incorrect; instead, use '我想传递这个消息' (Wǒ xiǎng chuán dì zhège xiāoxi).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 交流

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Component characters

交jiāoto hand over
HSK 46 strokes亠
View full entry
流liúto flow
HSK 410 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say to exchange in Chinese

“to exchange” in Chinese is交流jiāoliú

交流 (jiāo liú) refers to the act of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings between individuals or groups. It is commonly used in contexts such as social interactions, discussions, and educational exchanges, highlighting the importance of communication in effective relationships.

When to use 交流

Be aware that 交流 is often used in formal contexts, such as business meetings or academic settings, and may not be as common in casual conversations. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with '沟通' (gōu tōng), which implies a deeper level of communication; instead, use 交流 for general exchanges.

交流 or something close to it

沟通 (gōutōng): use 交流 (jiāoliú) for informal or broad exchanges, while 沟通 (gōutōng) emphasizes deeper understanding and clarity in communication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 交流 with 传递 (chuán dì, to convey), using it inappropriately in contexts that don't emphasize interaction. For example, saying '我想交流这个消息' (Wǒ xiǎng jiāo liú zhège xiāoxi) is incorrect; instead, use '我想传递这个消息' (Wǒ xiǎng chuán dì zhège xiāoxi).

Write 交流

交
流

Practice writing 交流 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 交流

交流 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 5 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我将到巴黎____参观。

I'm going to go on an exchange visit to Paris.

Example sentences for 交流 (7)

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1
我将到巴黎交流参观。

wǒ jiāng dào Bā lí jiāoliú cānguān。

I'm going to go on an exchange visit to Paris.
2
家庭疗法指导我们彼此之间的沟通交流。

jiātíng liáofǎ zhǐdǎo wǒmen bǐcǐ zhījiān de gōutōng jiāoliú。

Family therapy showed us how to communicate with each other.
3
蜜蜂之间所用的交流方式是昆虫中最为复杂的方式之一。

mìfēng zhījiān suǒ yòng de jiāoliú fāngshì shì kūnchóng zhōng zuì wèi fùzá de fāngshì zhīyī。

Honeybees use one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any insect.
4
他在丁格尔湾与海豚交流的时候特别开心。

tā zài Dīng gé ěr wān yǔ hǎitún jiāoliú de shíhou tèbié kāixīn。

He was so happy communing with the dolphin in Dingle Bay.
5
两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意.

liǎng gè zǔ de xiānghù jiāoliú chǎnshēng le xǔduō hǎo zhǔyi.

The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.
6
东森与大陆之间的新闻交流密切 、 多样且规律.

dōng sēn yǔ dàlù zhījiān de xīnwén jiāoliú mìqiè、 duōyàng qiě guīlǜ.

News exchanges between EBC and the mainland are close, diverse and regular.
7
这座岛上的居民有一半无法用英语交流。

zhè zuò dǎo shàng de jūmín yǒu yíbàn wúfǎ yòng yīngyǔ jiāoliú。

Half of the island's population has no usable English.
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Cultural Notes for 交流

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, communication often emphasizes directness and individual expression, while in Chinese culture, 交流 may involve more indirect approaches and a focus on harmony in relationships.

Frequently asked questions about 交流

You can say, '我们需要更多的交流' (Wǒmen xūyào gèng duō de jiāo liú), meaning 'We need more communication.'

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