Meaning
水流 refers to the movement or flow of water, such as in a river, stream, or current. As a noun, it describes the flowing water itself or the current; as a verb, it means the action of water flowing. This word is commonly used in both everyday and technical contexts to describe natural water movement.
Usage
Native speakers use 水流 to describe both gentle streams and powerful currents. It frequently appears in contexts discussing rivers, ocean currents, water features, and hydraulic engineering. The word can describe both the physical phenomenon and its characteristics (fast, slow, turbulent). Common patterns include 水流湍急 (rapid current) and 水流缓慢 (slow flow).
Examples
- 01这条河的水流很急，游泳很危险。, .The current in this river is very strong; swimming is dangerous.
- 02水流冲刷着河岸的岩石。.The water flow erodes the rocks on the riverbank.
Characters
Measure words
- 股一股水流
- 道一道水流
Common collocations
- 水流湍急rapid current
- 水流缓慢slow current
- 水流速度flow velocity
- 逆水流against the current
Antonyms
Origin
A compound combining 水 (water) and 流 (to flow), creating a straightforward descriptive term for flowing water that has been used in Chinese for centuries.