流す
流す in 30 Sekunden
- Transitive verb meaning 'to let flow' or 'to wash away'.
- Used for water, tears, sweat, music, and rumors.
- Can mean to cancel a plan or ignore a comment.
- Crucial for daily life tasks like flushing and cleaning.
The verb 流す (nagasu) is a versatile Japanese transitive verb that fundamentally describes the action of causing something to move in a stream or current. Unlike its intransitive counterpart 流れる (nagareru), which describes the state of flowing, 流す implies an active agent—someone or something—initiating that flow. This can range from the literal act of pouring water down a drain to the metaphorical act of spreading information or letting an emotional moment pass.
- Literal Movement
- The most basic use involves liquids. Whether you are flushing a toilet (トイレを流す), washing away dirt with a hose, or letting blood flow from a wound, the focus is on the displacement of fluid through intentional action. In a kitchen context, it often refers to draining water after boiling noodles or washing vegetables.
- Emotional and Biological Release
- Humans 'flow' things too. We shed tears (涙を流す) or break into a sweat (汗を流す). These expressions are deeply ingrained in Japanese literature and daily speech to describe physiological responses to effort, heat, or sadness. Using 'nagasu' here emphasizes the outward expression of the internal state.
- Media and Information
- In the modern age, nagasu has evolved to cover the broadcasting of signals and data. When a radio station plays music (音楽を流す) or a news outlet spreads a rumor (噂を流す), they are 'flowing' information into the public sphere. It suggests a continuous stream of content reaching an audience.
料理の後は、シンクに水をたっぷり流してきれいにしてください。
Furthermore, nagasu carries a nuanced meaning of 'letting go' or 'canceling'. In business or social settings, if a plan is 'washed away' (流す), it means it has been called off or postponed indefinitely. This metaphorical 'washing away' is also seen in the famous idiom 水に流す (mizu ni nagasu), which means to forgive and forget, literally 'letting it flow into the water'.
彼は悲しい映画を見て涙を流した。
Using 流す correctly requires understanding its role as a causative-transitive verb. It follows the standard Godan verb conjugation pattern. Because it is transitive, the focus is on the person performing the action and the object being moved.
- Conjugation Basics
- Polite: 流します (nagashimasu)
- Negative: 流さない (nagasanai)
- Past: 流した (nagashita)
- Te-form: 流して (nagashite)
- Potential: 流せる (nagaseru)
- Common Object Pairings
- The objects you 'flow' define the context. 1. Liquids: 水 (water), お湯 (hot water), 洗剤 (detergent). 2. Bodily Fluids: 涙 (tears), 汗 (sweat), 血 (blood). 3. Abstract: 噂 (rumors), 情報 (information), 音楽 (music), 映像 (video). 4. Events: 予定 (plans), 話 (a topic/conversation).
店内で静かなジャズを流しています。
In a social context, nagasu can mean to 'ignore' or 'let a comment slide'. If someone says something rude and you don't react, you 聞き流す (kikinagasu)—literally 'listen and let it flow away'. This is a vital skill in Japanese social harmony (Wa).
嫌なことは水に流しましょう。
You will encounter 流す in a wide variety of environments, from the mundane to the professional. Its frequency in daily life makes it a core verb for B1 learners.
- In the Home
- The most common place is the bathroom or kitchen. Signs in public toilets often say 「使った後は水を流してください」 (Please flush the water after use). Parents tell children to wash the soap off: 「石鹸をよく流してね」.
- In Media and Tech
- On YouTube or Twitch, streamers 'flow' their content. News anchors talk about 'flowing' the latest footage (映像を流す). In the office, someone might ask you to 'flow' an email or a document to the rest of the team (情報を流す).
- In Sports and Work
- Coaches talk about 'flowing sweat' (汗を流す) as a metaphor for hard work. In a more negative sense, 'nagasu' can refer to working half-heartedly, like 'drifting' through a task without focus (手を抜いて流す).
ラジオから懐かしいメロディーが流れてきたので、ボリュームを上げた。
While 流す is common, learners often trip up on transitivity and specific collocations.
- Confusing Transitive and Intransitive
- Mistake: 川が流します (Kawa ga nagashimasu). Correct: 川が流れます (Kawa ga nagaremasu). The river flows by itself; it doesn't 'flow' something else unless you specify an object like 'the river flows logs'. Use nagaremasu for natural, automatic flow.
- Misusing with 'Music'
- While ongaku o nagasu is correct for playing music over a speaker system, don't use it for playing an instrument. You hiku (play) a piano, you don't nagasu it. Nagasu implies the distribution of sound through a medium.
❌ トイレが流さない。
✅ トイレを流す。
Understanding the synonyms and related terms for 流す helps refine your vocabulary precision.
- 流す vs. 注ぐ (Tsugu/Sosogu)
- 流す: To let flow/drain away (focus on the movement or disposal).
注ぐ: To pour into a container (focus on the destination, like pouring tea into a cup). - 流す vs. 放送する (Housou suru)
- 流す: Casual, used for playing music in a room or background.
放送する: Formal, specifically for TV/Radio broadcasting to a wide audience. - 流す vs. 捨てる (Suteru)
- 流す: To dispose of via liquid (down the drain).
捨てる: To throw away (usually solid trash).
コップにビールを注ぐ。
古いビールをシンクに流す。
How Formal Is It?
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Wichtige Grammatik
Transitive vs Intransitive pairs
Causative-Passive construction
Compound verb formation (-nagasu)
Particle 'de' for means
Particle 'ni' for destination
Beispiele nach Niveau
トイレの水を流してください。
Please flush the toilet.
Direct object 'mizu' (water) with 'o' particle.
お皿を水で流します。
I will rinse the plates with water.
Using 'de' to indicate the means (water).
石鹸をきれいに流した。
I washed the soap off completely.
Adverb 'kirei ni' modifying the verb.
お風呂の水を流します。
I will drain the bathwater.
Transitive action of draining.
ここにゴミを流さないで。
Don't wash trash down here.
Negative request 'nai de'.
コップを洗って、水を流す。
Wash the cup and let the water flow.
Sequential action using Te-form.
手を洗うとき、水を流しっぱなしにしないで。
Don't leave the water running when you wash your hands.
'-ppanashi' meaning leaving something in a state.
プールに水を流す。
I put water into the pool.
Directional particle 'ni'.
彼は悲しくて涙を流した。
He was sad and shed tears.
Emotional use of 'nagasu'.
暑いので、たくさん汗を流しました。
It was hot, so I sweated a lot.
Biological use of 'nagasu'.
カフェでいい音楽を流している。
They are playing good music in the cafe.
Continuous state 'te iru'.
シャワーで汗を流してきます。
I'm going to wash off the sweat in the shower.
'-te kuru' indicating going and coming back.
料理のソースをシンクに流した。
I poured the cooking sauce down the sink.
Disposal of liquid.
ラジオを流しながら勉強する。
I study while having the radio on.
'-nagara' for simultaneous actions.
川に小舟を流して遊んだ。
We played by floating small boats in the river.
Causing an object to drift.
ビデオを流して説明します。
I will explain while playing the video.
Using media as a tool.
嫌なことは水に流しましょう。
Let's let bygones be bygones.
Common idiom 'mizu ni nagasu'.
変な噂を流すのはやめてください。
Please stop spreading strange rumors.
Metaphorical flow of information.
彼は私の話をいつも聞き流す。
He always lets what I say go in one ear and out the other.
Compound verb 'kikinagasu'.
明日の会議は流しましょう。
Let's cancel tomorrow's meeting.
Colloquial use for 'cancel/postpone'.
インターネットで最新のニュースを流す。
Spread the latest news on the internet.
Broadcasting information.
彼は仕事で大粒の汗を流した。
He worked hard and broke a heavy sweat.
Emphasis on effort.
その映画は多くの人の涙を流させた。
That movie made many people cry.
Causative form 'nagasaseta'.
古い習慣を流して、新しいことを始めよう。
Let's wash away old habits and start something new.
Abstract 'washing away'.
デマを流すと法律で罰せられることがあります。
Spreading false rumors can sometimes be punished by law.
Formal warning context.
彼女は辛い過去を水に流すことができなかった。
She couldn't let her painful past go.
Potential negative 'nagasu koto ga dekinai'.
店内のBGMをジャズに流し替えた。
I changed the background music in the store to jazz.
Compound verb 'nagashikaeru'.
彼はタクシーを流して客を探している。
He is cruising in his taxi looking for passengers.
Specific industry jargon 'nagashi'.
大雨で家が流される被害が出た。
There was damage where houses were washed away by heavy rain.
Passive form 'nagasareru'.
情報を外部に流したのは誰だ?
Who was it that leaked the information to the outside?
Nuance of 'leaking'.
彼は冗談を軽く受け流した。
He brushed off the joke lightly.
Compound verb 'uketonagasu'.
この曲を流すと、当時のことを思い出す。
When I play this song, I remember those days.
Conditional 'to'.
独裁者は反対派の血を流すことを厭わなかった。
The dictator did not hesitate to shed the blood of the opposition.
High-level political/historical context.
彼は都会の喧騒を流して、静かな山奥へ向かった。
He left the city bustle behind and headed deep into the quiet mountains.
Literary use of 'leaving behind/flowing past'.
その作家は、溢れる想いを筆に流した。
The author poured his overflowing emotions into his pen.
Metaphorical artistic expression.
不祥事を隠すために、偽の情報を流した疑いがある。
There is a suspicion that false information was spread to cover up the scandal.
Complex sentence with 'utagai ga aru'.
時代の潮流に身を流すのも一つの生き方だ。
Going with the flow of the times is also a way of living.
Philosophical usage.
彼は自らの不運を嘆き、夜通し涙を流し続けた。
He lamented his misfortune and continued to shed tears all night long.
Continuative 'nagasitsuzuketa'.
景気対策として、市場に資金を流す必要がある。
As an economic measure, it is necessary to inject (flow) funds into the market.
Economic/Technical context.
その職人は、長年の勘で釉薬を流していく。
The craftsman applies the glaze using years of intuition.
Specialized craft context.
万葉の歌人は、移ろう季節に想いを流した。
The poets of the Manyoshu let their thoughts flow into the changing seasons.
Classical/Literary nuance.
権力闘争の裏で、多くの無実の民が血を流してきた。
Behind the power struggles, many innocent people have shed their blood.
Formal historical narrative.
彼は世俗の垢を流すべく、滝行に挑んだ。
In order to wash away the grime of the secular world, he challenged himself to waterfall training.
Spiritual/Religious context using 'beku'.
その言説は、大衆の深層心理に巧みに情報を流し込むものだった。
That discourse was one that skillfully funneled information into the deep psychology of the masses.
Psychological/Sociological analysis.
伝統を墨守するだけでなく、新たな息吹を流し込むことが肝要だ。
It is essential not only to adhere strictly to tradition but also to breathe (flow) new life into it.
Abstract conceptualization.
彼は己の罪を購うため、生涯を捧げて汗を流した。
To atone for his sins, he devoted his life to working hard (sweating).
Thematic depth.
情報の氾濫の中で、真実を流し去ってはいけない。
In the flood of information, we must not let the truth be washed away.
Metaphorical warning.
その旋律は、聴く者の魂を浄土へと流し誘うようであった。
The melody seemed to flow and invite the listener's soul toward the Pure Land.
Highly poetic/Spiritual.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
Leicht verwechselbar
Intransitive: The water flows by itself.
To pour into a specific container.
To let go/release (sounds similar: hanasu).
Satzmuster
So verwendest du es
Always requires an agent and an object.
Can imply lack of focus (shigoto o nagasu).
- Using 'nagasu' for playing a piano.
- Saying 'mizu ga nagasu' instead of 'mizu o nagasu'.
- Confusing 'nagasu' with 'nakasu' (to make cry).
- Using 'nagasu' for throwing away a solid box.
- Thinking 'mizu ni nagasu' means to literally throw water.
Tipps
Particle Choice
Always use 'o' for the thing being flowed. If using a hose, use 'de' for the hose.
Compound Verbs
Learn 'kikinagasu' (ignore) and 'uketonagasu' (deflect) to sound more natural.
Summer Context
Look out for 'Nagashi Somen' festivals in July and August.
Household Chores
Use 'nagasu' when talking about rinsing dishes or cleaning the tub.
Conflict Resolution
Use 'mizu ni nagasu' when you want to apologize and move on.
Broadcasting
Remember that 'nagasu' is used for background music in stores.
Exercise
After the gym, say 'ase o nagashite kita' (I just washed off my sweat).
Avoid Intransitive Mix-ups
Don't say 'kawa ga nagasu'. Say 'kawa ga nagareru'.
Forgiveness
The phrase 'mizu ni nagasu' is a very 'Japanese' way to express forgiveness.
Information Flow
In IT, 'data o nagasu' can mean to send or process a stream of data.
Einprägen
Wortherkunft
The kanji depicts water (氵) and a child upside down (㐬), symbolizing birth or a flowing movement.
Kultureller Kontext
A fun way to eat noodles in summer.
Reflects the Shinto concept of purification by water.
Always wash off (nagasu) soap before entering the communal tub.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Gesprächseinstiege
"最近、何かいい音楽を流していますか?"
"嫌なことがあったとき、どうやって水に流しますか?"
"流しそうめんを食べたことがありますか?"
"感動して涙を流した映画は何ですか?"
"噂を流されたことはありますか?"
Tagebuch-Impulse
今日、一生懸命汗を流して頑張ったことを書いてください。
「水に流したい」と思っている過去の出来事について。
あなたがよく家で流している音楽やラジオについて。
最近感動して涙を流したエピソード。
インターネットで情報を流すときに気をつけていること。
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, use 'hiku'. 'Nagasu' is for recorded music or broadcasting.
It means a taxi cruising the streets looking for customers rather than waiting at a stand.
Yes, it can be used to settle disputes or move past failed negotiations.
'Nagasu' is specifically for liquids or things that can be washed away; 'suteru' is for general trash.
「水を流してください」(Mizu o nagashite kudasai).
Yes, in the context of 'leaking information' (jouhou o nagasu).
It means to work hard or put in physical effort.
It means passive listening, which is helpful but not sufficient for active mastery.
A Japanese ceremony where paper lanterns are floated down a river.
Yes, it means to cancel or let the scheduled time pass without holding it.
Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen
Write 'Please flush the water' in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Mizu o nagashite kudasai.
Mizu o nagashite kudasai.
Write 'I shed tears' in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Namida o nagashimashita.
Namida o nagashimashita.
Write 'Let's forgive and forget' using the 'water' idiom.
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Mizu ni nagashimashou.
Mizu ni nagashimashou.
Write 'Don't spread rumors' in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Uwasa o nagasanai de kudasai.
Uwasa o nagasanai de kudasai.
Write 'I rinse the dishes' in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Osara o nagashimasu.
Osara o nagashimasu.
Write 'Playing music in the cafe' in Japanese.
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Cafe de ongaku o nagashite imasu.
Cafe de ongaku o nagashite imasu.
Write 'He ignored my story' using a compound verb.
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Kare wa watashi no hanashi o kikinagashita.
Kare wa watashi no hanashi o kikinagashita.
Write 'The house was washed away by the rain'.
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Ie ga ame de nagasareta.
Ie ga ame de nagasareta.
Write 'Shedding blood for the country'.
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Kuni no tame ni chi o nagasu.
Kuni no tame ni chi o nagasu.
Write 'Don't leave the water running'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Mizu o nagashippanashi ni shinai de.
Mizu o nagashippanashi ni shinai de.
Write 'I wash off the sweat in the shower'.
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Shower de ase o nagasu.
Shower de ase o nagasu.
Write 'I will spread the news on the internet'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Internet de news o nagasu.
Internet de news o nagasu.
Write 'He parried the question'.
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Kare wa shitsumon o uketonagashita.
Kare wa shitsumon o uketonagashita.
Write 'Letting the brush flow in calligraphy'.
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Shodo de fude o nagasu.
Shodo de fude o nagasu.
Write 'I drain the bathwater'.
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Ofuro no mizu o nagasu.
Ofuro no mizu o nagasu.
Write 'I study while playing the radio'.
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Radio o nagashinagara benkyou suru.
Radio o nagashinagara benkyou suru.
Write 'Let's cancel the plan'.
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Yotei o nagashimashou.
Yotei o nagashimashou.
Write 'Cruising taxi' (noun phrase).
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Nagashi no taxi.
Nagashi no taxi.
Write 'Atoning for sins by working hard (sweating)'.
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Tsumi o aganau tame ni ase o nagasu.
Tsumi o aganau tame ni ase o nagasu.
Write 'Wash the soap off'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sekken o nagashite.
Sekken o nagashite.
Say 'Please flush the toilet' in Japanese.
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Practice polite request.
Say 'I shed tears' after a movie.
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Practice past tense.
Say 'Let's forget the past' using 'mizu ni nagasu'.
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Practice the idiom.
Say 'I was spreading rumors' (accidentally).
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Practice '-te shimau'.
Say 'Rinse the cup'.
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Informal request.
Say 'I'm playing music'.
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Continuous form.
Say 'I ignored his complaint'.
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Compound verb practice.
Say 'The meeting was cancelled'.
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Intransitive use for cancellation.
Say 'I put my heart into this work'.
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Metaphorical speaking.
Say 'Don't waste water'.
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Common warning.
Say 'I sweated a lot'.
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Past tense polite.
Say 'I will spread the information'.
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Future/Intent.
Say 'He deflected the joke'.
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Compound verb practice.
Say 'Shedding blood for justice'.
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Formal/Serious.
Say 'Drain the water'.
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Simple instruction.
Say 'I study while listening to the radio'.
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Simultaneous action.
Say 'Let's cancel it'.
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Short casual cancel.
Say 'I saw a cruising taxi'.
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Noun phrase practice.
Say 'Wash away the grime of the world'.
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Advanced idiom.
Say 'Flush it!'.
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Urgent informal.
Listen and identify the action: 'Mizu o nagashite kudasai'.
Basic request.
Listen and identify the emotion: 'Namida o nagashita'.
Bodily response.
Listen and identify the social action: 'Mizu ni nagasou'.
Idiom recognition.
Listen and identify the media action: 'Ongaku o nagasu'.
Broadcasting context.
Listen and identify the nuance: 'Kikinagasu'.
Compound verb nuance.
Listen: 'Sekken o nagasu'. What is being washed?
Object identification.
Listen: 'Ase o nagasu'. What happened?
Biological context.
Listen: 'Uwasa o nagasu'. Is this good or bad?
Social nuance.
Listen: 'Yotei ga nagareta'. Is the meeting happening?
Cancellation nuance.
Listen: 'Chi o nagasu'. What is the tone?
Tone recognition.
Listen: 'Mizu o nagasanai de'. What should you not do?
Negative request.
Listen: 'Radio o nagasu'. What is on?
Media context.
Listen: 'Uketonagasu'. What did the person do?
Social skill.
Listen: 'Nagashi no taxi'. Where is the taxi?
Industry term.
Listen: 'Fude o nagasu'. What is the person doing?
Artistic context.
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
流す (nagasu) is the active counterpart to 流れる (nagareru). While the latter is for things that flow naturally, nagasu is for when YOU make them flow. Example: トイレを流す (Flush the toilet).
- Transitive verb meaning 'to let flow' or 'to wash away'.
- Used for water, tears, sweat, music, and rumors.
- Can mean to cancel a plan or ignore a comment.
- Crucial for daily life tasks like flushing and cleaning.
Particle Choice
Always use 'o' for the thing being flowed. If using a hose, use 'de' for the hose.
Compound Verbs
Learn 'kikinagasu' (ignore) and 'uketonagasu' (deflect) to sound more natural.
Summer Context
Look out for 'Nagashi Somen' festivals in July and August.
Household Chores
Use 'nagasu' when talking about rinsing dishes or cleaning the tub.
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr daily_life Wörter
もう少し
B1Noch ein bisschen. (もう少し水をください。 - Noch ein bisschen Wasser, bitte.)
じゅうしょ
A2Die genaue Angabe des Ortes, an dem jemand wohnt.
住所
A2Adresse, Wohnort. Der Ort, an dem jemand gemeldet ist.
~後
A2after
目覚まし
B1Ein Wecker. Ein Gerät, das ein Geräusch macht, um jemanden aufzuwecken.
目覚まし時計
B1Ein Wecker ist ein Gerät, das Menschen zu einer bestimmten Zeit aufweckt.
ひとりで
A2Alone.
~のに
B1Obwohl; obgleich. Wird verwendet, um Enttäuschung oder Überraschung über einen unerwarteten Ausgang auszudrücken.
ごぜん
A2Gozen bedeutet Vormittag oder A.M. auf Japanisch.
煩い
B1Der Fernseher ist zu laut (urusai).