流
current · a sink · flow · forfeit
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'water' (氵) with 'flow' (㐬), depicting water flowing in a river. Means movement, change, and lineage.
Symbolism
Symbolizes flow, change, and passage of time. Represents the essence of life and culture that keeps changing without stopping.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Garden with blooming flowers
Component Breakdown
water + 㐬
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
流言飛語
りゅうげんひご
false rumour (rumor); groundless rumour; canard
行雲流水
こううんりゅうすい
(metaphorically) floating with the tide
三界流転
さんがいるてん
endless cycle of rebirth through the three worlds of past, present, and future existences
生々流転
せいせいるてん
all things being in flux through the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth; the circle of transmigration
生死流転
しょうじるてん
all things being in flux through the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth; the circle of transmigration
風流三昧
ふうりゅうざんまい
taking delight in elegant pursuits; being absorbed in such elegant cultural pursuits as poetry, painting and calligraphy
枕流漱石
ちんりゅうそうせき
sore loser who stubbornly refuses to admit being wrong
万物流転
ばんぶつるてん
all things are in a state of flux; everything is constantly changing
落花流水
らっかりゅうすい
mutual love; the love one shows to another person being returned
流汗淋漓
りゅうかんりんり
profuse perspiration; dripping with sweat
流転輪廻
るてんりんね
all things being in flux through the endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth; the circle of transmigration
漱石枕流
そうせきちんりゅう
sore loser who stubbornly refuses to admit being wrong
高山流水
こうざんりゅうすい
high mountains and running water; the beauty of nature; beautifully (skillfully) played music
風流韻事
ふうりゅういんじ
elegant appreciation of nature through artistic pursuits such as poetry, painting and calligraphy
不易流行
ふえきりゅうこう
the principle of fluidity and immutability in haiku; haiku is both fluid and transitory, and eternal and immutable; an interchange between the transient and the immutable is central to the soul of haiku
無手勝流
むてかつりゅう
winning without fighting; method used to win without fighting; one's own way of doing things (i.e. as different from that of one's instructor)
流連荒亡
りゅうれんこうぼう
spending all one's time in idle amusement away from home; being absorbed in self-indulgent pleasures
没風流漢
ぼつふうりゅうかん
prosaic person; person of an unromantic turn of mind; philistine
Poetry
みかの原 わきて流るる いづみ川 いつみきとてか 恋しかるらむ
The Izumi River gushes through Mika plain. When did I ever see her, that I should long for her so?
山川に 風のかけたる しがらみは 流れもあへぬ 紅葉なりけり
The weir the wind has thrown across the mountain stream turns out to be maple leaves, unable to flow on.
滝の音は 絶えて久しく なりぬれど 名こそ流れて なほ聞こえけれ
The sound of the waterfall ceased long ago, yet its name flows on and is heard to this day.
Anime & Manga
DARKER THAN BLACK -流星の双子-
Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor
A well-known work with 流 in its Japanese title.
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 戦闘潮流
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 2: Battle Tendency
A well-known work with 流 in its Japanese title.
雨を告げる漂流団地
Drifting Home
A well-known work with 流 in its Japanese title.
ひるなかの流星
Daytime Shooting Star
A well-known work with 流 in its Japanese title.
漂流教室
The Drifting Classroom
A well-known work with 流 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“current”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 流 mean in Japanese?
流 means current, a sink, flow, forfeit.
How do you read 流?
On'yomi: リュウ、ル (RYUU, RU). Kun'yomi: なが.れる、なが.れ、なが.す、-なが.す (nagareru, nagare, nagasu, nagasu).
How many strokes does 流 have?
流 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 水 (water).
Is 流 a good kanji for a tattoo?
流 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means current, a sink, flow, forfeit. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.