Meaning and Usage
The word "流れ" (ながれ) primarily means "flow" or "stream," referring to the movement of water or other liquids. It is also commonly used metaphorically to describe the progression or sequence of events, such as in conversations, meetings, or processes.
Common Contexts
- Literal water flow: Describing rivers, streams, or currents.
- Event or process flow: Explaining how something proceeds step-by-step.
- Conversation or narrative flow: Understanding the logical progression in speech or writing.
Collocations and Patterns
- 川の流れ (かわのながれ): river flow, used when talking about natural water currents.
- 会議の流れ (かいぎのながれ): flow of a meeting, used in business or formal settings.
- 話の流れ (はなしのながれ): flow of conversation, common in daily communication.
Usage Notes
"流れ" is a noun and can be combined with verbs like "つかむ" (to grasp) or "説明する" (to explain) to talk about understanding or describing the flow. It is a neutral word suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
A common learner mistake is confusing "流れ" with "流す" (ながす), which is a verb meaning "to let flow" or "to drain." Remember that "流れ" is the noun form referring to the flow itself.