Translation guide
The English word 'flowing' describes smooth, continuous movement, often of liquids, but also of hair, clothing, speech, or abstract things like time. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
Describing water, rivers, blood, air, etc. moving in a steady stream.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to flow'. Used for liquids, gases, electricity, time, etc. This is the most common and versatile word.
川が静かに流れている。
The river is flowing quietly.
この川は海に流れている。
This river flows into the sea.
Transitive verb meaning 'to make something flow' or 'to let flow'. Used for pouring water, flushing, playing music, etc.
水を流してください。
Please let the water flow. (e.g., flush the toilet, pour water)
Noun meaning 'flow' or 'stream'. Can refer to a current of water, a trend, or a sequence of events.
川の流れが速い。
The river's flow is fast.
Describing long hair, dresses, curtains, etc. that hang or move smoothly in the air or wind.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to flutter' or 'to wave' in the wind. Commonly used for hair, flags, curtains, etc.
彼女の長い髪が風になびいている。
Her long hair is flowing in the wind.
カーテンがそよ風になびく。
The curtains flow in the breeze.
Can also be used metaphorically for hair or fabric that hangs down smoothly, like a flowing river.
Adjectival phrase meaning 'flowing' or 'streaming', used to describe graceful lines or movements.
流れるようなドレス
a flowing dress
Describing language that is eloquent, effortless, or uninterrupted.
Na-adjective meaning 'fluent' or 'flowing' (of speech). Often used for language ability.
彼は流暢な英語を話す。
He speaks flowing English.
Adverb meaning 'smoothly' or 'without hesitation', used for speaking, reading, or writing.
彼女はすらすらと答えた。
She answered in a flowing manner.
Adverbial phrase meaning 'like flowing', used for speech that is smooth and uninterrupted.
彼のスピーチは流れるように続いた。
His speech continued in a flowing manner.
Describing time that seems to move continuously and effortlessly.
Used metaphorically for time flowing. Very common.
時間がゆっくり流れている。
Time is flowing slowly.
Means 'to pass' (of time). Often used instead of 'flow' for time moving by.
Describing the smooth movement of non-physical things like information, funds, or vehicles.
Noun for 'flow' in abstract senses: flow of traffic, flow of conversation, cash flow, etc.
車の流れがスムーズだ。
The flow of traffic is smooth.
資金の流れを追う。
Follow the flow of funds.
Verb form for abstract flow.
流れる (nagareru) is for liquids, time, and things that move like a river. なびく (nabiku) is specifically for things that flutter or wave in the wind, like hair, flags, or curtains. Don't use なびく for water.
English uses 'flowing' for many things (flowing beard, flowing script). In Japanese, 流れる is not always natural. For a beard, use 長い (long) or 豊かな (abundant). For handwriting, use 流れるような筆跡 (flowing handwriting) but it's a set phrase.
流れるような筆跡
flowing handwriting
彼女の髪は背中に流れている。
Her hair flows down her back.
The days flowed by.
情報が流れてくる。
Information flows in.