noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
first-class; first-rate; top-ranking
The common modern sense. Used as a noun or before の to describe a person, organization, skill, service, product, etc. as being among the best.
She is a first-rate chef.
このホテルはサービスが一流だ。
This hotel has top-class service.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
characteristic of; peculiar to; unique to
Often appears as someone＋一流の, meaning something done in that person's characteristic or distinctive style. Do not confuse this with the evaluative meaning 'top-class.'
それは彼一流のやり方だ。
That is his characteristic way of doing things.
彼女一流の皮肉で、会場の空気が少し和らいだ。
Her characteristic sarcasm eased the atmosphere in the room a little.
school; lineage; style tradition
Limited use for a school, style, or lineage in a traditional art such as flower arrangement or tea ceremony. Modern Japanese more commonly says 流派 for this meaning.
古い文脈では、華道や茶道などの流派を一流と呼ぶことがある。
In older contexts, a school of flower arrangement or tea ceremony may be called 一流.
one flag; one banner; one streamer
Only when written 一流 / 一旒
Rare counting or catalog-style use for a single flag, banner, or streamer; also written 一旒. This is not the ordinary 'first-rate' meaning.
古い目録の「旗一旒」は、旗が一つあることを表す。
The old catalog entry 旗一旒 means that there is one flag.
He got the whole venue laughing with his signature humor.
Through sustained effort, he became a top-class athlete.
He is known as a first-rate architect.
流派 is the standard modern word for a school or tradition in the arts, while 一流 in this sense is a rarer, more classical way to express the same idea.
一流 describes people, brands, or organizations as top-tier, whereas 上等 is used more for the quality of goods or materials.
一流 means 'first-class' and emphasizes quality or rank, while 有数 stresses being among the top in number or prominence within a group.
一流 describes something as 'first-rate' or top-tier in quality, while 屈指 specifically ranks it among a small, countable group of the best in a category.
first-class; top-notch; leading
top-ranked firm; leading company; prestigious company