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流行 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
流行liúxíngto spreadHSK 4, v, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíngto rage (of contagious disease)HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíngpopularHSK 4, v, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíngfashionableHSK 4, v, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíngprevalentHSK 4, v, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíng(math.) manifoldHSK 4, v, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíng(of a contagious disease etc) to spreadHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíngto propagateHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
流行liúxíng(of a style of clothing, song etc) popularHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3041, Medium
liúxíng(liu2xing2) T2
  1. 1to spread
  2. 2to rage (of contagious disease)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

流行liúxíng(liu2xing2)

The word 流行 (liúxíng) primarily means 'to spread' or 'to be popular.' It is commonly used to describe trends in fashion, music, or culture that gain widespread acceptance. Additionally, it can refer to the propagation of ideas or even diseases, highlighting its versatility in various contexts.

Strokes16Frequency#3041DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, trends can spread rapidly through social media platforms like Weibo and Douyin, making 流行 particularly relevant in discussions about youth culture and modern lifestyles.

Memory Tip

Imagine a river (流, liú) flowing (行, xíng) through a city, carrying popular styles and trends with it. The image of a flowing river helps you remember that this word is about things that spread widely and are fashionable.

Meanings of 流行

liúxíng(liu2xing2)
1to spread
2to rage (of contagious disease)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 流行

流行Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3041Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 流行

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Podcast: 流行

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AI Study Notes for 流行

Quick Contrast

流传 (liúchuán) - use 流行 when referring to popularity or trends, while 流传 emphasizes the act of transmission or passing down over time.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a river (流, liú) flowing (行, xíng) through a city, carrying popular styles and trends with it. The image of a flowing river helps you remember that this word is about things that spread widely and are fashionable.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 流行 with similar phrases like 受欢迎 (shòu huānyíng), which means 'to be well-received.' 流行 is more about the current trend or popularity itself. It is informal and commonly used in everyday conversations, especially among younger people.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 流行 connects well with other vocabulary related to social trends and current events. Focus on using it in sentences that describe what is popular in music, fashion, or social media to enhance your conversational skills.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, trends can spread rapidly through social media platforms like Weibo and Douyin, making 流行 particularly relevant in discussions about youth culture and modern lifestyles.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 流行 by saying '流行的音乐' (liúxíng de yīnyuè) incorrectly when they mean 'popular music' instead of 'the music that is currently trending.' A more accurate expression would be '流行音乐' (liúxíng yīnyuè).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 流行

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Component Characters

流liúto flow
HSK 410 strokes氵
View full entry
行xíngto walk
HSK 36 strokes行
View full entry

Write 流行

流
行

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

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Grammar Patterns of 流行

流行 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

当时自行车是英国最____的交通工具。

The bicycle reigned supreme as Britain's most popular mode of transport.

Example Sentences for 流行 (13)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
vto spread10
1
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.
2
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.
3
玛丽女王开启了青花瓷在英格兰的流行风尚。

mǎ lì nǚ wáng kāi qǐ le qīng huā cí zài yīng gé lán de liú háng fēng shàng。

Queen Mary started the fashion for blue and white china in England.
4
“那闹哄哄的究竟是在做什么？”她问道。“是流行音乐节，”他回答说。

“ “ nà nào hōng hōng de jiū jìng shì zài zuò shí？” mó ？” tā。“ wèn dào 。“ shì liú háng，” yīn lè jié ，”。

"Whatever is that row?" she demanded. "Pop festival," he answered.
5
霍华德想成为流行歌手，但因怯场而心生畏惧。

huò huá dé xiǎng chéng wéi liú háng gē shǒu， ， dàn yīn qiè cháng ér xīn shēng wèi。

Howard wanted to be a popular singer, but stage fright crippled him.
6
这个发现似乎能印证流行占星术的一些说法。

zhè gè fā xiàn sì hū néng yìn zhèng liú háng zhān xīng shù de yī xiē shuō fǎ。

This discovery seems to validate the claims of popular astrology.
7
她还幻想着自己能成为流行歌星。

tā huán huàn xiǎng zháo zì jǐ néng chéng wéi liú háng gē xīng。

She has some cockeyed delusions about becoming a pop star.
8
几年前慢跑很流行。

jī nián qián màn pǎo hěn liú háng。

A few years ago jogging was the in thing.
9
这一古板的老旧机构拒绝承认人们对流行音乐的需求。

zhè yī gǔ bǎn de lǎo jiù jī gòu jù jué chéng rèn rén mén duì liú háng yīn lè de xū qiú。

The fusty old establishment refused to recognise the demand for popular music.
10
他从广播里听到的都是千篇一律的流行歌曲。

tā cóng guǎng bō lǐ tīng dào de dū shì qiān piān yī lǜ de liú háng gē qū。

The radio had fed him a diet of pop songs.
vto rage (of contagious disease)3
11
最近这种病毒在全球范围内流行，大家都很担心。

Zuìjìn zhè zhǒng bìngdú zài quánqiú fànwéi nèi liúxíng, dàjiā dōu hěn dānxīn.

Recently, this virus is raging globally, and everyone is very worried.
12
在冬季，流感常常在各地流行，要注意防护。

Zài dōngjì, liúgǎn chángcháng zài gèdì liúxíng, yào zhùyì fánghù.

In winter, the flu often rages in various places, so be careful with protection.
13
医生说这种传染病正在学校里流行，我们需要提高警惕。

Yīshēng shuō zhè zhǒng chuánrǎnbìng zhèngzài xuéxiào lǐ liúxíng, wǒmen xūyào tígāo jǐngtì.

The doctor said this contagious disease is raging in schools, and we need to be vigilant.

Cultural Notes for 流行

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, trends can spread rapidly through social media platforms like Weibo and Douyin, making 流行 particularly relevant in discussions about youth culture and modern lifestyles.

Frequently Asked Questions about 流行

Yes, 流行 can describe anything that is currently popular, including music, movies, and even ideas.

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