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逆流 (nì liú) — (noun) countercurrent, adverse current (literal: water, air, etc.); (noun) opposing trend, force that runs against the mainstream (figurative)

Definition

Literally 'reverse current' — water or air flowing against the main direction. Used figuratively for any force or trend that runs against the mainstream.

noun
countercurrentadverse current (literal: water, air, etc.)opposing trend, force that runs against the mainstream (figurative)
Measure word · 股

Examples

  • 逆流，。
    Zhè tiáo hé de yí duàn yǒu nì liú, yóu yǒng yào xiǎo xīn.
    This section of the river has a countercurrent; be careful when swimming.
  • ，逆流。
    Shí dài zài jìn bù, rèn hé nì liú dōu wú fǎ zǔ dǎng fā zhǎn.
    The times are progressing; no countercurrent can stop development.
  • 逆流。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū shēn hǎi zhōng de nì liú.
    Scientists are studying countercurrents in the deep ocean.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

逆nìreverse
流liúflow/current

A 流 that is 逆, a current running against the usual direction.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 辶辵chuòmovement
  • 屰屰nìgo against

The 辶 part shows movement, and 屰 gives the sound and the sense of going against, so the whole depicts moving in the opposite direction.

Open 逆 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →
Appears in
Geography & Landforms

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