流动

• Pinyin: liú dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 流 = 氵(water) + 㐬 (infant/flow), water flowing; 动 = 云 (cloud) + 力 (strength), movement

Meaning

To flow; to circulate; mobile. Movement of liquids, people, capital, or other things.

Describes the movement or circulation of things. Can apply to physical substances like water, abstract concepts like capital, or populations. Also used as an adjective meaning mobile or itinerant, as in 流动人口 (floating population).

Examples

1. 城市的流动人口越来越多，给管理带来了挑战。 The floating population in cities is increasing, bringing challenges to management.
2. 保持空气流动对健康很重要。 Keeping air circulating is important for health.
3. 资金的流动性决定了市场的活跃程度。 Capital liquidity determines how active the market is.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, population, science

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个地区的人口流动性很大。(This area has high population mobility.)
• 资金流动对经济发展至关重要。(Capital flow is crucial for economic development.)

Don't Say

• 他流动地走路。(流动 describes how things circulate, not how someone walks — use 轻快地 or similar)

Origin & History

流 (liú, flow) + 动 (dòng, move). Flowing movement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal