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流失 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
流失liúshīdrainageHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #15501, Very Hard
流失liúshīto run offHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #15501, Very Hard
流失liúshīto wash awayHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #15501, Very Hard
liúshī(liu2shi1)liu shi T2
  1. 1drainage
  2. 2to run off
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March 24, 2026

流失liúshī(liu2shi1)

流失 (liúshī) means to drain away or to wash off, often referring to the loss of resources, time, or something valuable. It is commonly used in contexts like water flow, economic resources, or even emotional experiences, indicating a gradual or irreversible loss.

Strokes15Frequency#15501DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of loss, especially related to resources like water, is significant due to historical droughts and the importance of water conservation. The phrase is often used in environmental discussions.

Memory tip

Imagine a river (流 liú) flowing away, carrying precious things with it. Visualize the water (水) washing away your belongings, emphasizing how something valuable is lost or drained (失 shī) as it flows downstream.

Meanings of 流失

liúshī(liu2shi1)
1drainage
2to run off
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About 流失

流失Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 流失

Quick Contrast

流失 (liúshī) vs 流动 (liúdòng) — use 流失 when referring to a loss or depletion, while 流动 indicates movement or flow without the implication of loss.

Usage Notes

流失 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its tone and usage in written versus spoken language. Common collocations include '人力流失' (loss of manpower) and '水资源流失' (loss of water resources).

HSK Study Tips

Although 流失 is not a specific HSK vocabulary word, it connects with HSK Level 4 terms related to nature (e.g., 水) and loss (e.g., 失). Focus on understanding its components and how they combine to convey the idea of loss.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 流失 with 流动 (liúdòng), which means to flow or move. For example, saying '水流动' instead of '水流失' when talking about losing water resources is incorrect; use 流失 to emphasize the loss.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 流失

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Component characters

流liúto flow
HSK 410 strokes氵
View full entry
失shīto lose
5 strokes大
View full entry

How to say drainage in Chinese

“drainage” in Chinese is流失liúshī

流失 (liúshī) means to drain away or to wash off, often referring to the loss of resources, time, or something valuable. It is commonly used in contexts like water flow, economic resources, or even emotional experiences, indicating a gradual or irreversible loss.

When to use 流失

流失 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with its tone and usage in written versus spoken language. Common collocations include '人力流失' (loss of manpower) and '水资源流失' (loss of water resources).

流失 or something close to it

流失 (liúshī) vs 流动 (liúdòng) — use 流失 when referring to a loss or depletion, while 流动 indicates movement or flow without the implication of loss.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 流失 with 流动 (liúdòng), which means to flow or move. For example, saying '水流动' instead of '水流失' when talking about losing water resources is incorrect; use 流失 to emphasize the loss.

Write 流失

流
失

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Frequently asked questions about 流失

You can say '我们的水资源正在流失' (Our water resources are being drained away).

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