流通

りゅうつう

circulation of money or goods, distribution

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"流通" (りゅうつう) primarily refers to the circulation or distribution of goods, money, or information. It is commonly used in business, economics, and logistics contexts to describe how products or currency move through markets or systems.

Common Contexts

You will often see "流通" used when talking about product availability, supply chains, or financial systems. For example, "商品が流通する" means products are being distributed or available in the market.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 流通する: to circulate or distribute (goods, money)
  • 流通システム: distribution system
  • 流通業界: distribution industry
  • 流通量: volume of circulation

These collocations are useful for discussing business operations or economic topics.

Register and Nuance

"流通" is a formal noun often used in written and professional contexts. It is not typically used in casual conversation unless discussing business or economics.

Common Learner Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "流通" with "流れる" (to flow) or "流す" (to let flow). Remember "流通" is a noun focusing on the concept of circulation or distribution, not the action of flowing itself.

Example Sentences

このしょうひんはぜんこくでりゅうつうしています。

This product is distributed nationwide.

おかねのりゅうつうがけいざいにおおきなえいきょうをあたえる。

The circulation of money has a big impact on the economy.

あたらしいりゅうつうシステムをどうにゅうして、ぶつりゅうをこうりつかした。

We introduced a new distribution system to streamline logistics.