逆流 (nìliú): adverse current

Measure Word

一股逆流 gǔ

游泳时要小心水中的逆流。

Yóuyǒng shí yào xiǎoxīn shuǐzhōng de nìliú.

Be careful of countercurrents in the water when swimming.

他们的保守思想是时代的逆流。

Tāmen de bǎoshǒu sīxiǎng shì shídài de nìliú.

Their conservative thinking is a reactionary current against the times.

逆流而上需要极大的毅力。

Nìliú ér shàng xūyào jídà de yìlì.

Swimming against the current requires tremendous willpower.

usage

逆流 is used both literally (a current flowing against the main flow) and figuratively (a reactionary or retrograde trend in society or politics).

逆 nì

流 liú