流行る

• Reading: はやる
• Romaji: hayaru
• Kanji breakdown: 流 (ryuu/naga) — flow, stream; 行 (kou/i) — go, carry out
• Pronunciation: /ha.ja.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be popular; to come into fashion; to be in vogue. Describes something becoming widespread or trendy.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. The more casual verb form of the noun 流行 (ryuukou, trend/fashion). Used for trends, fads, songs, fashion, and also for diseases spreading. Can carry both positive (trendy) and negative (epidemic) connotations depending on context. Very natural in casual conversation.

Examples

1. 最近このアプリが若者の間で流行っている。 This app has been trending among young people lately.
2. 去年の冬はインフルエンザが流行った。 The flu went around last winter.
3. あの歌手の新曲がすごく流行っているらしい。 I hear that singer's new song is really popular.

Usage Guide

Context: trends, fashion, health

Tone: casual

Origin & History

From the kanji compound 流行 (ryuukou), using the native Japanese reading はやる. The kanji 流 (flow) and 行 (go) together suggest something spreading widely like a current.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal