verb / adjective HSK 4
Traditional 流動
liú dòng
to flow · to circulate · mobile · fluid

Meaning

流动 describes the movement or circulation of liquids, people, capital, or abstract things. As a verb, it means 'to flow' or 'to move freely.' As an adjective, it describes something that is mobile, fluid, or not fixed in one place.

Usage

Commonly used in both literal contexts (water flowing, traffic moving) and figurative contexts (population migration, capital circulation). Often appears in official or formal language when discussing economics, demographics, or logistics. The adjective form frequently modifies nouns like 人口 (population) or 资金 (capital).

Examples

  1. 01
    河水在山谷中缓缓流动
    shuǐ zài shān zhōng huǎn huǎn liú dòng.
    The river water flows slowly through the valley.
  2. 02
    这个城市的流动人口超过了一百万。
    Zhè ge chéng shì de liú dòng rén kǒu chāo guò le bǎi wàn.
    The migrant population of this city exceeds one million.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 流动人口
    liú dòng rén kǒu
    migrant/floating population
  • 流动资金
    liú dòng jīn
    working capital, liquid assets
  • 流动
    liú dòng xìng
    liquidity, mobility
  • 自由流动
    yóu liú dòng
    to flow freely

Antonyms

Origin

Compound of 流 (flow) and 动 (move), literally meaning 'flow-move,' emphasizing continuous movement or circulation.

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