流行

りゅうこう

fashionable, fad, prevailing

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"流行" (liúxíng) primarily means "to spread" or "to be popular." It is commonly used to describe contagious diseases spreading among people, as well as trends, fashions, or cultural phenomena that become widely accepted or favored.

Common Contexts

  • When talking about diseases or viruses, "流行" emphasizes the rapid spread or outbreak.
  • In fashion, music, or technology, it refers to something being trendy or widely adopted.

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Notes

"流行" can be both a verb and an adjective. As a verb, it means "to spread" or "to be prevalent." As an adjective, it describes something fashionable or popular. It is often used in formal and informal contexts. Avoid confusing it with "热门" which also means popular but is more about current popularity rather than widespread adoption or cultural trend.

Example Sentences

This virus is spreading rapidly across the country.

This model of phone is very popular recently; many young people are using

Pop music is very popular among young people.