流れ

• Reading: ながれ
• Romaji: nagare
• Kanji breakdown: 流 (ryuu/naga) — flow, stream, current
• Pronunciation: /na.ɡa.ɾe/

Meaning

A stream or current; the flow of water, air, time, or events.

A noun derived from the verb 流れる (nagareru, to flow). Used both literally for water currents and figuratively for the flow of time, conversation, or events. Common expressions: 時の流れ (toki no nagare, the flow of time), 流れに乗る (nagare ni noru, to go with the flow). An essential word for describing natural phenomena and abstract processes.

Examples

1. 川の流れが今日はとても速い。 The river current is really fast today.
2. 時の流れは誰にも止められない。 No one can stop the flow of time.
3. 会議の流れを見て発言するタイミングを決めた。 I watched how the meeting was going and decided when to speak up.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, time, conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Noun form of 流れる. The kanji 流 combines 氵 (water radical) and a phonetic element, representing water moving in a stream.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal