1The continuous movement of a liquid or gas; a physical current such as a river's flow, airflow, or blood circulation.
今朝は川の流れが速くて危ない。
The river's current is fast this morning, so it's dangerous.
運動すると血の流れが良くなる。
Exercising improves your blood circulation.
工場の換気を見直して、空気の流れを改善した。
We reviewed the factory's ventilation and improved the airflow.
2The movement or passage of people or things over a stretch of space, or the passing of time and shifting of trends.
祭りが終わると、駅に向かう人の流れができた。
When the festival ended, a stream of people headed toward the station.
時の流れを感じさせる写真展だった。
It was a photo exhibition that made you feel the passage of time.
最近の消費の流れは、オンラインでの購入が中心だ。
The recent trend in consumption is centered on buying online.
朝の通勤時間帯は、車の流れがかなり速い。
Traffic flows quite fast during the morning commute.
3The course or sequence in which something proceeds; the overall procedure or process behind a task or event.
会議の流れを、始める前に簡単に説明します。
I'll briefly explain the flow of the meeting before we begin.
申請書の処理の流れは、ウェブサイトで確認できます。
You can check the processing flow for the application on the website.
プロジェクトの流れを整理してから、作業に取りかかろう。
Let's organize the project's workflow before we start on the work.
4A group of people who end up moving or acting together, carried along by the mood or momentum after an event.
コンサートが終わると、会場を出る人の流れができた。
When the concert ended, a stream of people formed, leaving the venue.
飲み会の流れで、有志が二次会に行くことになった。
Carried along by the mood of the drinking party, some of us ended up going to a second gathering.
5A lineage, tradition, or school of thought handed down over time; the inherited character of a discipline, art, or family line.
この流派は、茶道の古い流れをくんでいる。
This school carries on an old tradition of the tea ceremony.
彼の絵は、印象派の流れをくんでいると評される。
His paintings are said to be in the tradition of the Impressionists.
この一族は、代々武士の流れを汲んでいるという。
This family is said to trace its lineage back to samurai, generation after generation.
6In finance, the forfeiture of collateral or a pawned item because it was not redeemed within the set period.
質入れした指輪は、期限までに受け出さないと流れになる。
If the pawned ring isn't redeemed by the deadline, it will be forfeited.
7The cancellation of a plan or arrangement that fails to go through; usually appears as お流れ.
台風のため、遠足はお流れになった。
The field trip was called off because of the typhoon.
交渉がまとまらず、話はお流れになってしまった。
The negotiations couldn't be settled, and the deal fell through.
8Drifting or wandering from place to place without a fixed home; figuratively, an unsettled or aimless state or movement.
彼は若い頃、仕事を求めて各地を流れ歩いていたそうだ。
It's said that in his youth he wandered from place to place looking for work.