水流 (shuǐliú) means 'water flow' and refers to the movement or current of water in rivers, streams, or other bodies of water. It is commonly used to describe natural phenomena, engineering contexts (like plumbing), or in discussions about environmental issues such as erosion or water conservation.
HSK 6, 16 strokes, Hard
shuǐliú(shui3liu2) T3
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May 27, 2026
水流shuǐliú(shui3liu2)
水流 (shuǐliú) means 'water flow' and refers to the movement or current of water in rivers, streams, or other bodies of water. It is commonly used to describe natural phenomena, engineering contexts (like plumbing), or in discussions about environmental issues such as erosion or water conservation.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water is often associated with life and balance, as seen in traditional philosophies like Taoism. 水流 can symbolize the flow of life and the importance of respecting natural resources, which is a common theme in Chinese literature and art.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river flowing smoothly, carrying leaves and twigs along with it, representing the idea of 水流. The character 水 (water) looks like flowing waves, while 流 (flow) can remind you of something flowing seamlessly, like a gentle current.
About 水流
水流Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 水流
Podcast: 水流
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AI Study Notes for 水流
Quick Contrast
水流 (water flow) vs 水势 (water current) — use 水流 for general movement of water, while 水势 emphasizes the power or force of the water's movement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river flowing smoothly, carrying leaves and twigs along with it, representing the idea of 水流. The character 水 (water) looks like flowing waves, while 流 (flow) can remind you of something flowing seamlessly, like a gentle current.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 水流 with 流水 (liúshuǐ), which specifically means 'running water' and is often used in household contexts. 水流 is more formal and used in discussions about nature or technical subjects. Pay attention to tone; mispronouncing 流 can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK 6, learners should focus on using 水流 in complex sentences and in descriptive writing about nature or environmental science. It connects with vocabulary related to water, such as 河流 (héliú - river) and 流动 (liúdòng - to flow), reinforcing the concept of movement.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water is often associated with life and balance, as seen in traditional philosophies like Taoism. 水流 can symbolize the flow of life and the importance of respecting natural resources, which is a common theme in Chinese literature and art.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 水流 when they mean 流水, leading to incorrect contexts. For example, saying '我需要水流' (I need water flow) when they actually mean 'I need running water' should be corrected to '我需要流水'.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 水流
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Cultural Notes for 水流
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, water is often associated with life and balance, as seen in traditional philosophies like Taoism. 水流 can symbolize the flow of life and the importance of respecting natural resources, which is a common theme in Chinese literature and art.
Frequently Asked Questions about 水流
水流 is pronounced as 'shuǐliú', with the third tone for 水 and the second tone for 流.
Yes, while it may sound more formal, you can use 水流 when talking about rivers or water systems in both casual and formal contexts.
水流 refers to the flow of water in a broader sense, while 流水 specifically means running water, often in a household context.
