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下流

xiàliú
adjective #8,579

Meanings

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

Characters

下
xià
lower; beneath; down
流
liú
to flow; class; grade
Lower + class - originally 'downstream' or 'lower class,' now meaning vulgar or indecent.

Examples

HSK 1
他说了很多下流话。
Tā shuō le hěnduō xiàliúhuà.
He said a lot of vulgar things.
HSK 2
别那么下流！
Bié nàme xiàliú!
Don't be so vulgar!
HSK 4
这种下流行为让人恶心。
Zhè zhǒng xiàliú xíngwéi ràng rén ěxīn.
This kind of indecent behavior is disgusting.

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