Meaning Index
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to circulate", including 传 (chuán / zhuàn), 流 (liú). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
The English word "to circulate" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 传 (chuán / zhuàn), 流 (liú) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chuán, zhuàn, liú — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 传 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 传 (chuán / zhuàn) — so "to circulate" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "to circulate".
这个故事一直流传到今天。Zhè ge gù shi yì zhí liú chuán dào jīn tiān.This story has been passed down to this day.
Common words: 宣传 (xuān chuán)、传说 (chuán shuō)、传播 (chuán bō)
小河的水静静地流着。Xiǎo hé de shuǐ jìng jìng de liú zhe.The water of the little river flows quietly.
Common words: 流行 (liú xíng)、流利 (liú lì)、交流 (jiāo liú)
Open 传、流 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.