流れ

What it means

What does 流れ mean? It denotes the ongoing movement along a path, whether the physical flow of water or the progression of events, and it can also refer to trends or directions in a situation.

Main meanings

• Flow of a liquid or gas; physical movement of water, air, etc.
• Sequence or progression of events; the course something takes over time.
• Trend or tendency; the general direction in a situation or field.
• Flow of people or traffic; movement along a space or route.
• Flow of thoughts or ideas; a stream of consciousness.

How to use it

Used in both literal and metaphorical contexts across registers: physical phenomena like 水の流れ or 川の流れ, as well as abstract progress such as 物事の流れ or 世の流れ; common in phrases like 流れに乗る, 流れを作る, 流れを読む, and in journalism and storytelling to describe the sequence or direction of events.