Core Meaning
The character 流 primarily means 'to flow' or 'to move continuously,' often used for liquids like water or abstract concepts like time or information.
Extended Uses
Besides literal flowing, 流 can describe the spread or circulation of information, emotions, or trends. For example, '消息流传' means news spreading.
Common Collocations
- 流水 (liúshuǐ): flowing water
- 流行 (liúxíng): popular, fashionable (literally 'flowing and prevailing')
- 流泪 (liúlèi): to shed tears
Usage Notes
When used in phrases like '流露,' it conveys the idea of emotions or thoughts naturally showing or leaking out. Avoid confusing 流 with similar verbs like 走 (zǒu, to walk/go) which imply deliberate movement rather than continuous flow.
Register and Tone
流 is neutral and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese. It appears in formal contexts (scientific descriptions of flow) and informal speech (talking about trends or feelings).