流动

liúdòng

to flow

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"流动" (liúdòng) primarily means "to flow" or "to move" and is often used to describe the movement of liquids, people, or capital. It conveys a sense of continuous, dynamic movement rather than static positioning.

Common Contexts

It is frequently used in natural contexts like water flowing in rivers, as well as in social and economic contexts such as population migration or the circulation of money.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 流动人口 (liúdòng rénkǒu): mobile population, often referring to migrants or temporary residents.
  • 资金流动 (zījīn liúdòng): capital flow, important in finance and economics.
  • 流动资金 (liúdòng zījīn): working capital.

Usage Notes

When using 流动, the emphasis is on movement and change rather than permanence. It differs from 静止 (jìngzhǐ, static) or 停止 (tíngzhǐ, stop). Avoid confusing 流动 with 移动 (yídòng), which also means "to move" but often implies deliberate or physical relocation rather than natural or economic flow.

Example Sentences

河水在山谷中自由流动。

Héshuǐ zài shāngǔ zhōng zìyóu liúdòng.

The river water flows freely through the valley.

城市人口的流动影响了经济发展。

Chéngshì rénkǒu de liúdòng yǐngxiǎngle jīngjì fāzhǎn.

The movement of the urban population affects economic development.

资金在市场中不断流动,保持经济活力。

Zījīn zài shìchǎng zhōng bùduàn liúdòng, bǎochí jīngjì huólì.

Capital continuously flows in the market, maintaining economic vitality.