godan verb (-su), transitive verb
let flow; pour; drain; flush; shed
Basic transitive use: make liquid or something liquid-like move away or along a path. Common with 水, 涙, 血, 汗, and with flushing or draining.
排水口に水を流した。
I poured water down the drain.
She shed tears of frustration.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
float downstream; set adrift
Used when someone lets an object ride on a current or drift away, such as logs in a river or a small boat on the water.
昔は川に丸太を流して運んだ。
In the past, logs were floated down the river for transport.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
wash away; carry away; sweep away
Usually describes water, floods, or a strong current carrying something off. Passive forms such as 流される are especially natural.
大雨で橋が流された。
The bridge was washed away by the heavy rain.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
broadcast; play over speakers; send through
Extends the idea of flow to sound, images, signals, or electricity being sent through a medium or system.
店内に静かな音楽を流している。
They are playing quiet music inside the shop.
そのニュースは夜の番組で流された。
The news was broadcast on the evening program.
この線に強い電流を流さないでください。
Please do not send a strong current through this wire.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used for making information, rumors, notices, documents, or messages move around among people. With うわさ or デマ it often implies irresponsible spreading.
彼は根拠のないうわさを流した。
He spread an unfounded rumor.
会議の資料をメールで全員に流してください。
Please circulate the meeting materials to everyone by email.
godan verb (-su), intransitive verb
cruise around; go from place to place
Intransitive motion use, especially of taxi drivers, street performers, or others moving around while looking for customers, listeners, or opportunities. The area traveled may be marked with を as a route.
タクシーの運転手は客を探して繁華街を流していた。
The taxi driver was cruising through the entertainment district looking for passengers.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used when someone lets a plan, proposal, meeting, or bill fall through or be dropped. For plans, the intransitive 流れる is also very common when the cancellation just happens.
急用が入ったので、今日の打ち合わせを流すことにした。
Because something urgent came up, we decided to call off today's meeting.
委員会でその法案は流された。
The bill was rejected in committee.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
forfeit a pawn
Rare game-related use for losing or giving up a pawn-like piece. It is not a general everyday meaning of 流す.
この文脈では「歩を流す」は、歩をただで失うという意味だ。
In this context, 歩を流す means to lose a pawn for nothing.
godan verb (-su), intransitive verb
do at an easy pace; take it easy; do effortlessly
Often used in sports or practice with 軽く, meaning to run, swim, or perform without going all out.
練習の最後は、百メートルを軽く流した。
At the end of practice, I ran an easy hundred meters.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Historical or literary use for sending someone away as punishment, especially to a remote place or island.
昔、罪人を遠い島へ流した。
In the past, criminals were exiled to distant islands.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
hit to the opposite field
Baseball term for guiding or hitting the ball the other way rather than pulling it.
打者は外角の球を逆方向へ流した。
The batter hit the outside pitch to the opposite field.
suffix, godan verb (-su)
do inattentively; do with little effort; skim through
Suffix-like use after the masu-stem of another verb, as in 読み流す or 聞き流す. It means doing the action lightly, carelessly, or without fully engaging with it.
時間がなくて、資料を読み流しただけだった。
I was short on time, so I only skimmed through the materials.
彼は先生の注意を聞き流してしまった。
He let the teacher's warning go in one ear and out the other.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
cause a miscarriage; abort
Sensitive and uncommon use referring to ending a pregnancy or causing a miscarriage. Modern Japanese more commonly uses medical expressions such as 中絶する or 流産する depending on the situation.
古い文章では「胎児を流す」が中絶を意味する場合がある。
In older writing, 胎児を流す can mean to abort a fetus.