下流

xiàliú

adjective #8,579

Meanings

1 vulgar; obscene; indecent
2 mean; base; despicable
3 (literal) downstream; lower reaches (of a river)

Characters

lower; beneath; down

to flow; class; grade

Lower + class — originally 'downstream' or 'lower class,' now meaning vulgar or indecent.

Examples

他说了很多下流话。

Tā shuō le hěnduō xiàliúhuà.

He said a lot of vulgar things.

这种下流行为让人恶心。

Zhèzhǒng xiàliú xíngwéi ràng rén ěxīn.

This kind of indecent behavior is disgusting.

别那么下流！

Bié nàme xiàliú!

Don't be so vulgar!

Tips

usage

下流 is a strong word — it describes someone or something as morally low, vulgar, or obscene. 下流话 = dirty/vulgar language. 下流行为 = indecent behavior. The literal meaning 'downstream' (长江下流 = lower Yangtze) is a separate, neutral usage.

Stroke Order

下 xià

流 liú