Explore 流 in physical and figurative flows. Learn each reading together with a complete word.

The idea

流 has 10 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 流れる（ながれる） means to flow, and 流れ（ながれ） is a flow or sequence. In compounds, 流行（りゅうこう） means a trend or being popular, and 交流（こうりゅう） means exchange.

Patterns to compare
WordReading
流れるながれる
流れながれ
流行りゅうこう
交流こうりゅう

Examples

  • 川かわに水みずが流ながれています。Water flows in the river.
  • カフェで音楽おんがくが流ながれています。Music is playing in the cafe.
  • 川かわの流ながれは速はやいです。The river’s current is fast.
  • その歌うたは若わかい人ひとの間あいだで流行りゅうこうしています。That song is popular among young people.
  • 二ふたつの国くにの間あいだに文化ぶんかの交流こうりゅうがあります。There is a cultural exchange between the two countries.
  • 仕事しごとの流ながれを確認かくにんします。I will check the course of the work.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not read every 流 as なが: 流行 and 交流 use りゅう. Flowing music is being played, while 流行 describes popularity.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 流れる in hiragana.

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    ながれる

    流れる is ながれる: water can flow in a river. Include the okurigana れる.

  2. Write the reading of 交流 in hiragana.

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    こうりゅう

    交流 is こうりゅう: it can describe cultural exchange between countries.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿行（りゅうこう）［流／海］.

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    流

    流 completes 流行（りゅうこう）, a trend or popularity; 海 means sea.

Use it today

Write 流 with the diagram, cover the table, then read 流れる and 交流 aloud. Make a sentence about a flow or an exchange.