清流

• Reading: せいりゅう
• Romaji: seiryu
• Kanji breakdown: 清 (sei/kiyo-) — clear, pure; 流 (ryu/naga-) — flow, current
• Pronunciation: /seː.ɾjɯː/

Meaning

Clear stream; limpid river. A river or stream with beautifully transparent, clean water, typically found in mountainous or forested areas.

A poetic noun evoking purity and natural beauty. 清流 appears frequently in literature, tourism promotion, and environmental reporting. Rivers designated as 清流 are often celebrated for supporting rare species such as ayu (sweetfish) and Japanese giant salamanders. The word carries strong aesthetic and cultural connotations of unspoiled nature, contrasting sharply with 濁流.

Examples

1. 四万十川はその清流の美しさから四国を代表する川として知られている。 The Shimanto River is known as Shikoku's most representative river for the beauty of its clear waters.
2. 清流のほとりに腰を下ろし、せせらぎの音に耳を傾けた。 I sat down by the clear stream and listened to the sound of the murmuring water.
3. この清流にはアユが豊富に生息しており、夏になると釣り人でにぎわう。 This clear stream is home to an abundance of ayu sweetfish, and it becomes lively with anglers in summer.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, tourism, fishing, literature

Tone: literary

Origin & History

Compound of 清 (clear, pure, clean) and 流 (flow, stream, current). Together they evoke a stream of crystalline purity, directly contrasting with 濁流 (muddy torrent).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal