下流

• 読み: かりゅう
• ローマ字: karyuu
• 漢字の分解: 下 (ka/shita) — lower, below; 流 (ryuu) — flow, stream, current
• 発音: /ka.ɾjɯː/

意味

Downstream; lower reaches of a river. The part of a river closer to where it empties into the sea.

A noun with both literal and figurative uses. Literally, it refers to the lower section of a river where the water flows more slowly and the land tends to be flatter. The opposite is 上流 (jouryuu, upstream). Figuratively, 下流 can describe lower social classes or lower quality, though this usage carries a negative connotation and should be used carefully.

例文

1. 川の下流に広い平野が広がっている。
2. 工場の排水が下流の水質に影響を及ぼしている。
3. 上流で大雨が降ると、下流では洪水の危険が高まる。

使い方ガイド

場面: geography, environment, news

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

From Sino-Japanese: 下 (ka, lower/below) + 流 (ryuu, flow/stream). Literally 'lower flow' — the downstream portion of a flowing body of water.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal