seon6 lau4順流顺流
Jyutpingseon6 lau4
Yaleseuhn làuh
Definition
Downstream; in the same direction as the current or flow of water.
colloquialnaturetransport
How it's used
Describes movement that aligns with the natural direction of a current, whether in water or metaphorically in life. While often used in formal idioms like 順流而下, it functions perfectly well in everyday speech to describe physical travel or swimming. It carries a sense of ease and lack of resistance compared to 逆流.
Examples
We will save a lot of energy if we swim downstream.
Related words
Common phrases
to go downstream
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 順手, which means to do something conveniently while already doing another task. Learners sometimes mistakenly use 順流 to mean doing something easily or naturally in a social context, but it is strictly reserved for directional flow.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
