main current; go with the mainstream
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
the main current in the middle of a river
technicalA technical/specialized term for describing water flow in hydrology and navigation. Often contrasted with '小溜' (lesser current).
Chuán船
zhǐ只
yào要
shùn顺
zhe着
dà大
liù溜
háng航
xíng行
cái才
néng能
shěng省
lì力
。
Boats need to sail with the main current to save effort.
Dà大
liù溜
de的
shuǐ水
liú流
sù速
dù度
fēi非
cháng常
kuài快
。
The flow speed of the main current is very fast.
noun
the trend; the mainstream; the majority's practice (as in '随大溜')
informalMost commonly used in the idiom '随大溜'. This figurative usage is more common in daily speech than the literal hydrological meaning.
Tā他
méi没
yǒu有
zhǔ主
jiàn见
，
zǒng总
shì是
suí随
dà大
liù溜
。
He has no opinion of his own and always goes with the mainstream.
Suí随
dà大
liù溜
yǒu有
shí时
bǐ比
jiào较
ān安
quán全
，
dàn但
quē缺
fá乏
gè个
xìng性
。
Following the crowd can be safer sometimes, but it lacks individuality.
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Bié别
suí随
dà大
liù溜
，
yào要
dú独
lì立
sī思
kǎo考
。
Don't just follow the herd; think for yourself.