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潮流 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
潮流cháoliútideHSK 6, n, 25 strokes, rank #8649, Hard
潮流cháoliúcurrentHSK 6, n, 25 strokes, rank #8649, Hard
潮流cháoliútrendHSK 6, n, 25 strokes, rank #8649, Hard
cháoliú(chao2liu2)chao liu T2
  1. 1tide
  2. 2current
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March 24, 2026

潮流cháoliú(chao2liu2)

潮流 (cháoliú) refers to the natural movement of tides in the ocean as well as metaphorically to trends or currents in society, fashion, or ideas. It is commonly used to describe prevailing trends that influence behavior, culture, and industry.

Strokes25Frequency#8649DifficultyHard
Cultural note

潮流 is often used in the context of Chinese fashion and technology trends, reflecting the fast-paced changes in contemporary Chinese society where youth culture is heavily influenced by global trends.

Memory tip

Think of 潮 (cháo) as 'tide' with a wave-like shape, and 流 (liú) as 'flowing water'. Imagine a surfer riding the waves of the ocean while also keeping up with the latest fashion trends – they are riding the '潮流' of both water and style.

Meanings of 潮流

cháoliú(chao2liu2)
1tide
2current
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 潮流

潮流Simplified
25Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8649Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 潮流

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Podcast: 潮流

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AI study notes for 潮流

Quick Contrast

趋势 (qūshì) refers specifically to a trend or tendency, while 潮流 (cháoliú) emphasizes the natural flow or current of trends in a broader context.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 潮流, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about social trends or fashion. Common collocations include '时尚潮流' (fashion trends) and '社会潮流' (social trends).

HSK Study Tips

As a level 6 word, 潮流 helps learners connect with vocabulary related to modern societal topics. Students should focus on using it in context with related words like '趋势' (trend) and '流行' (popular).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 潮流 with similar-sounding words. For example, using '潮流' (cháoliú) instead of '潮湿' (cháoshī, meaning humid) can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember that 潮流 relates to trends or currents, not moisture.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 潮流

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Component characters

潮cháotide
HSK 715 strokes氵
View full entry
流liúto flow
HSK 410 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say tide in Chinese

“tide” in Chinese is潮流cháoliú

潮流 (cháoliú) refers to the natural movement of tides in the ocean as well as metaphorically to trends or currents in society, fashion, or ideas. It is commonly used to describe prevailing trends that influence behavior, culture, and industry.

When to use 潮流

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 潮流, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about social trends or fashion. Common collocations include '时尚潮流' (fashion trends) and '社会潮流' (social trends).

潮流 or something close to it

趋势 (qūshì) refers specifically to a trend or tendency, while 潮流 (cháoliú) emphasizes the natural flow or current of trends in a broader context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 潮流 with similar-sounding words. For example, using '潮流' (cháoliú) instead of '潮湿' (cháoshī, meaning humid) can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember that 潮流 relates to trends or currents, not moisture.

Write 潮流

潮
流

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

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Grammar patterns of 潮流

潮流 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 3 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 5

Fill the gap

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

形品位于港岛东,落成后将带动区内型格生活品味____.

LIME Habitat in Island East will redefine luxury living.

Example sentences for 潮流 (4)

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1
形品位于港岛东,落成后将带动区内型格生活品味潮流.

xíng pǐnwèi yú Gǎng dǎo dōng, luòchéng hòu jiāng dàidòng Ōu nèi xíng gé shēnghuó pǐnwèi cháoliú.

LIME Habitat in Island East will redefine luxury living.
2
约翰尼已经改变了他的形象以迎合时代潮流。

yāo hàn ní yǐjīng gǎibiàn le tā de xíngxiàng yǐ yínghé shídài cháoliú。

Johnny has changed his image to fit the times.
3
阿奇喜欢那种紧跟潮流,讲满口时髦新词的感觉。

Ā jī xǐhuan nà zhǒng jǐn gēn cháoliú, jiǎng mǎn kǒu shímáo xīn cí de gǎnjué。

Archie liked to think he kept up with current slang.
4
他们谈到扭转历史潮流。

tāmen tándào niǔzhuǎn lìshǐ cháoliú。

They talked of reversing the tide of history.

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Cultural Notes for 潮流

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both Chinese and Western cultures recognize trends, in China, trends can spread rapidly through social media platforms, often leading to swift shifts in public opinion and consumer behavior.

Frequently asked questions about 潮流

潮流 refers to current trends that are actively shaping culture or fashion, whereas 趋势 indicates a general direction of change, which may be broader and less immediate.

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