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Expressing 'to flow' with 流 (liú)
Actions & Events
Direction & Movement
Structure
Subject + 流 + Direction/Location
Explanation
流 (liú) means "to flow" and describes the movement of liquids such as water, rivers, or tears. It can also be used figuratively to describe the passage of time or the spread of information. For example, 坡下流着一条河 means "a river flows below the slope."
Examples
眼泪顺着她的脸颊慢慢流下来。
Yǎnlèi shùnzhe tā de liǎnjiá mànmàn liú xiàlái.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
山间流着一条清澈的小溪。
Shānjiān liúzhe yì tiáo qīngchè de xiǎoxī.
A clear stream flows through the mountains.
时间像水一样流走了，再也回不来。
Shíjiān xiàng shuǐ yíyàng liú zǒu le, zài yě huí bù lái.
Time flows away like water and never comes back.