流 Stroke Order — How to Write 流
流 is written in 10 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 氵, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
流 Radical and Character Components
Components:氵㐬
流 is a phono-semantic compound: 氵 (water) carries the meaning, while 㐬 indicates the sound.
Radical: 氵 + 6 more strokes
流 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- liú
Meanings of 流 in Chinese
1
liú流
To flow, referring to the movement of liquid, such as water, sweat, or blood.
经过剧烈运动，他汗流浃背
After intense exercise, he was drenched in sweat.
To flow, circulate, drift, or wander like water; to spread; to reveal or express.
他流浪在外，心中却时常流露出对家乡的思念。
He wandered far from home, but his heart often revealed his longing for his hometown.
To spread, circulate, or become prevalent, often referring to information, ideas, or trends.
许多美好的故事就这样代代流传下来。
Many wonderful stories have thus been passed down from generation to generation.
Refers to the flowing water of rivers, streams, or currents.
这条大河奔流不息，滋养着两岸的土地。
This great river flows ceaselessly, nourishing the land on both banks.
Things that flow like water, such as air currents, warm currents, or electric currents.
这条电路里有强大的电流。
There is a strong electric current in this circuit.
To deteriorate; to become superficial or a mere formality.
我们不应该让学习流于形式，要注重实际效果。
We should not let our studies become a mere formality; we must focus on practical results.
To exile or banish, as a form of ancient punishment where criminals were sent to remote areas.
他因犯重罪被流放到偏远之地。
He was exiled to a remote place for committing a serious crime.
category, type, class, genre, grade
这个乐队的音乐风格属于摇滚流派。
The music style of this band belongs to the rock genre.
Refers to someone or something disreputable, of low character, or like a loafer.
这种流里流气的行为真是让人瞧不起。
This kind of uncouth and disreputable behavior is truly contemptible.
Common Words and Phrases with 流
1
Contemporaries or peers.
他总是和自己的流辈们保持着良好的关系，互相学习，共同进步。
He always maintains good relationships with his peers, learning from each other and making progress together.
2
corrupt practice; abuse
过度依赖便利的速食，长此以往会对健康造成流弊。
Over-reliance on convenient fast food will, in the long run, lead to detrimental health consequences.
3
to develop and change; evolution and change over time
随着季节的流变，大自然展现出不同的色彩和活力。
With the flux of seasons, nature displays different colors and vitality.
4
a branch of a river; a school or faction (of thought or belief)
这条大河有许多细小的流别，滋养着两岸的土地。
This large river has many small branches that nourish the land on both sides.
5
To spread, circulate, or be handed down.
这个民间传说在村庄里流播了许多代。
This folk tale has been circulating in the village for many generations.
6
spread abroad (of ideas, religion)
这项传统手工艺技术正在民间流布开来，吸引了许多年轻人学习
This traditional handicraft technique is circulating widely among the populace, attracting many young people to learn.
7
Miscarriage or abortion of a pregnancy; figuratively, a plan or project failing to materialize or being cancelled.
由于资金链断裂，那个宏伟的建设计划最终流产了。
Due to the broken capital chain, that ambitious construction plan ultimately failed.
8
9
A process, workflow, or a sequence of operations or steps.
我们正在优化生产流程以提高效率。
We are optimizing the production process to improve efficiency.
10
To circulate or spread among people; to be widely known or transmitted.
这个有趣的故事在朋友们之间流传开来。
This interesting story spread among friends.
11
to flee hither and thither; to move about from place to place (often used for criminals or bandits)
几只流浪狗在街头巷尾流窜，寻找食物
Several stray dogs were scurrying around the streets and alleys, looking for food.
12
A stray bullet or a random shot.
在冲突地区，人们常常担心被流弹误伤
In conflict zones, people often worry about being accidentally hit by stray bullets.
13
To roam or wander about, often aimlessly or idly.
他喜欢在城市里流荡，观察人们的生活。
He likes to wander around the city, observing people's lives.
14
To wander afar and forget to return; to stray and forget the way back.
他沉浸在异域风情中，仿佛流宕忘反，不愿再回到喧嚣的都市生活。
He was immersed in the exotic atmosphere, as if he had wandered and forgotten to return, unwilling to go back to the bustling city life.
15
To flow (as in liquids or gases); or to be mobile and change positions frequently.
水在管道中流动。
Water flows through the pipes.
16
Funds used by an enterprise for its daily operations, such as purchasing raw materials and paying wages, as opposed to fixed assets.
这家新开的公司需要足够的流动资金来支持前期的运营。
This newly established company needs sufficient working capital to support its initial operations.
More words with 流
- xī溪liú流Stream
- cháo潮liú流Trend, Fashion
- piāo漂liú流Rafting, Drift
- chà汊liú流A branch stream; a tributary.
- hóng洪liú流torrent, flood
- huàn换liú流Commutation
- huì汇liú流Confluence, Convergence
- jié截liú流river closure, to cut off the flow
- piāo飘liú流drift
- qiān迁liú流flux, change
- qián潜liú流undercurrent, hidden current
- shè射liú流jet, stream
- shèn渗liú流Percolation, Seepage
- tuān湍liú流turbulence
- wō涡liú流eddy, vortex
- xiè泄liú流Discharge, Release water
- yuán源liú流Origin and development, Source and evolution
- zhuó浊liú流Turbid flow, Turbidity current
- céng层liú流laminar flow
- máng盲liú流floating population, rural migrant
Idioms with 流
- liú流fāng芳bǎi百shì世leave a good name for posterity
- liú流fāng芳qiān千gǔ古leave a good name for posterity
- liú流fāng芳wàn万gǔ古leave an everlasting good reputation
- liú流lí离shī失suǒ所displaced and homeless
- liú流lí离yù遇hé合reunite after wandering
- liú流li里liú流qì气slovenly, rascally, or dissolute air
- liú流lián连wàng忘fǎn反linger, captivated, forget to return
- liú流lián连wàng忘fǎn返linger and forget to return
- liú流luò落fēng风chén尘drift destitute life
- liú流luò落jiāng江hú湖wander destitute as a vagrant
- liú流luò落shī失suǒ所displaced and homeless
- liú流luò落tā他xiāng乡wander destitute in a foreign land
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Open the tool →Questions about 流
What does 流 mean in Chinese?
流 (liú) means “To flow” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 流?
流 is pronounced liú in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 流 have?
流 has 10 strokes.
How do you write 流?
流 is written in 10 strokes, starting from the radical 氵. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 流?
The radical of 流 is 氵, and 流 is a phono-semantic compound.