流す
流す · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 流す | 流さない |
| Polite | 流します | 流しません |
| Past polite | 流しました | 流しませんでした |
| Past | 流した | 流さなかった |
| Te-form | 流して | 流さないで |
| Desire | 流したい | 流したくない |
| Potential | 流せる | 流せない |
| Passive | 流される | 流されない |
| Causative | 流させる | 流させない |
| Causative passive | 流させられる | 流させられない |
| Volitional | 流そう | |
| Polite volitional | 流しましょう | |
| Imperative | 流せ | 流すな |
| Conditional | 流せば | 流さなければ |
| Tara conditional | 流したら | 流さなかったら |
Meanings
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.
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.
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.
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.
They are playing quiet music inside the shop.
The news was broadcast on the evening program.
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.
He spread an unfounded rumor.
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.
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.
Because something urgent came up, we decided to call off today's meeting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The batter hit the outside pitch to the opposite field.
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.
I was short on time, so I only skimmed through the materials.
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.
In older writing, 胎児を流す can mean to abort a fetus.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を川に流すto set something adrift on a river
During Obon, people set lanterns adrift on the river.
- 洪水が〈物〉を流すfor a flood to wash something away
The flood washed away the bridge.
- 〈場所〉で〈物〉を流すto play or broadcast something, like music or an announcement, at a place
They play background music inside the store.
- 〈場所〉を流すto drive or move around an area looking for customers or business
The taxi cruises around the downtown area looking for passengers.
- 〈事〉を流すto drop or call off a plan, meeting, or event
Because of the typhoon, we decided to call off today's meeting.
- 軽く流すto do something, such as a run or swim, at an easy, relaxed pace
I kept today's practice light, just going through the motions.