流れる To Stream

Meaning

Primary

To Stream

Alternative

To Flow

Word Type

intransitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means stream? It's to stream (though it's also to flow, a very similar word). You can differentiate this from 流す because with 流す you flush something down the toilet, which causes it to overflow so you sue (す) the toilet maker. With 流れる you find a rare (れる) jewel trying to flow down the river. You grab it, and see it's a rare diamond!

Reading

ながれる

Explanation

The reading is the same as 流す. So long as you know that you should be able to read this one as well!

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜が流れる

  時間が流れる

  time flows by

  水が流れる

  water flows

  血が流れる

  blood flows (through one's veins, from a wound), blood is shed

• 〜に流れる

  川のように流れる

  to flow like a river

  同じ方向に流れる

  to flow in the same direction

  スムーズに流れる

  to flow smoothly

Context Sentences

近くを流れる川の水は、とてもきれいでした。

The water flowing in the nearby river was very clean.

そこでは、ゆっくりとした時間が流れていました。

There, time flowed slowly.

彼女のスピーカーから僕の好きなヘビメタの曲が流れてきて、びっくりしました。

I was surprised when my favorite heavy metal song started playing from her speakers.

Kanji Composition

1. 流

   りゅう Stream