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 hěn duō xiàliú huà.

He said a lot of vulgar things.

这种下流行为让人恶心。

Zhè zhǒng 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