流れ
Meanings
Physical movement of a fluid or gas, such as water, air, or electricity.
The river's current is fast.
The airflow is poor around here.
Movement of people, things, or time; also used for changing trends or tendencies.
It's a street with a constant flow of people.
You can't go against the flow of the times.
The natural progression or step-by-step development of events or actions.
I'll explain the flow of the meeting.
Learn the workflow.
group staying together after an event
Refers to people who remain as a group after a formal gathering, often moving to a second location. Common in social contexts like after-parties.
After the drinking party, we went to karaoke as a natural continuation.
Lineage or tradition, often used for artistic schools, crafts, or family lines.
He carries on an old school of flower arrangement.
Financial term for losing property or rights, especially in pawnshop or loan contexts.
Buy forfeited items at a pawnshop.
Usually used as お流れ, meaning a plan or event is called off or falls through.
See also: お流れ
The picnic was canceled due to rain.
Aimless movement, often used for people without a fixed destination or purpose.
He continues his wandering journey.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉の流れthe flow/direction of a situation or conversation
In the flow of conversation, I ended up hearing her secret.
- 流れに乗るto go with the flow/trend
He's always good at riding the current trends of the times.
- 流れを変えるto change the direction/momentum of events
That one remark changed the momentum of the match.
- 流れで〈事〉になるto end up happening as a natural result of how things went
As things went at the drinking party, we ended up going to a second party.
Expressions· 10
- 時の流れflow of time; passage of time · current of the times; trend of the times
- 潮の流れtidal current; sweep of the tide; drift of the tide
- 時代の流れtrend of the times; way things are going
- 流れを汲むbe descended from; be derived from; follow the tradition of
- 水の流れと人の行方life is unpredictable
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- 石に枕し流れに漱ぐlive freely in the wilderness; sleep on a stone pillow and rinse one's mouth with river water
- 石に漱ぎ流れに枕すstubbornly refuse to admit one is wrong
- 石が流れて木の葉が沈むthere are exceptions to every rule