ciu4 lau4潮流
Jyutpingciu4 lau4
Yalechìuh làuh
Definition
Tidal current, or a social trend or vogue.
- tidal current; the flow of water caused by the tides
- trend; vogue; the general direction of public affairs or social customs
neutraldescriptionsother
How it's used
While referring to actual ocean tides in scientific contexts, the term is far more frequently used to describe social trends, fashion, or cultural movements. It carries a sense of something being current and widely accepted by the public. When discussing fashion or style, it is often paired with the verb 興 to indicate that something is currently 'in'.
Measure word
gu2股gúExamples
Retro is popular lately, this kind of thing is really in vogue.
Do you think this trend will go out of style quickly?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 潮流 in a purely geographical sense, as the metaphorical usage for trends is overwhelmingly more common in daily speech. Learners sometimes misuse it to describe a personal preference, but it specifically refers to a collective, societal-level trend.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
