Keywords: liuxing, liúxíng, 流行, popular in Chinese, fashionable in Chinese, what is trendy in Chinese,流行音乐 (liúxíng yīnyuè), 流行文化 (liúxíng wénhuà),流行感冒 (liúxíng gǎnmào), epidemic in Chinese, prevalent.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 流行 (liúxíng), which means “popular,” “fashionable,” or “trendy.” This page breaks down how to talk about the latest trends in music, fashion, and culture. Crucially, it also covers the word's second important meaning: “epidemic” or “prevalent,” used to describe the spread of diseases like the flu. Understand the nuances, cultural context, and practical usage with clear examples to avoid common mistakes and sound like a native.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): liúxíng
Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To be popular, fashionable, or widespread; (of a disease) to be epidemic.
In a Nutshell: `流行` describes anything that is spreading widely among a population at a particular time. Think of it as a current flowing through society. This “current” could be a cool new song, a style of clothing, or, in a more serious context, a virus. The core idea is widespread movement and prevalence.
Character Breakdown
流 (liú): This character means “to flow,” like a river (河水流 - héshuǐ liú). It represents movement, circulation, and spreading out.
行 (xíng): This character means “to walk,” “to travel,” or “to be current.” It implies movement and action.
When combined, 流行 (liúxíng) literally means “flowing and traveling.” This creates a powerful and intuitive image of an idea, style, or illness moving and spreading throughout a community, which is exactly what a “trend” or “epidemic” is.
Cultural Context and Significance
`流行` is a cornerstone of modern Chinese vocabulary, reflecting the fast-paced, trend-driven nature of contemporary urban life. From viral social media challenges on Douyin (TikTok) to the latest bubble tea flavors, knowing what is `流行` is a way to participate in the shared, modern culture.
Comparison with “Trendy” vs. “Mainstream”: In Western culture, “trendy” can sometimes feel fleeting or superficial, and “mainstream” can even be a negative term for something that has lost its “cool” factor. `流行` in Chinese is more neutral and descriptive. It's a statement of fact that something is widespread, much like observing that a river is flowing. It doesn't carry the same baggage of “selling out” that “mainstream” sometimes does.
Duality of Culture and Health: The dual meaning of `流行`—covering both pop culture and public health—is significant. It shows a linguistic connection between how ideas and illnesses spread. This became particularly poignant during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the term was used constantly in news reports (`新型冠状病毒流行` - xīnxíng guānzhuàng bìngdú liúxíng). This connection highlights a worldview where social and biological phenomena are both seen as pervasive, flowing forces.
Practical Usage in Modern China
As “Popular/Trendy” (Adjective): This is the most common usage in daily conversation. It's used to describe things, not people.
Music: `流行音乐 (liúxíng yīnyuè)` - Pop music
Fashion: `今年最流行的颜色 (jīnnián zuì liúxíng de yánsè)` - This year's most popular color
Culture: `流行文化 (liúxíng wénhuà)` - Pop culture
Language: `网络流行语 (wǎngluò liúxíngyǔ)` - Internet slang
As “to be Prevalent/Spread” (Verb): This usage often feels slightly more formal.
`这种发型现在很流行。(Zhè zhǒng fàxíng xiànzài hěn liúxíng.)` - This hairstyle is very popular right now.
As “Epidemic” (Adjective/Verb): This is a more serious and formal usage, typically found in news, public health announcements, or medical contexts.
English: Although this type of phone is very popular, I personally don't like it.
Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the neutral, factual nature of `流行`. It acknowledges something is widespread without implying personal approval.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`流行` vs. `受欢迎 (shòu huānyíng)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
`流行` describes a thing or trend that is widespread. (e.g., a song, a style, a game).
`受欢迎` means “to be well-received” and describes a person or thing that people actively like and welcome.
Correct: 这个歌手很受欢迎。(Zhège gēshǒu hěn shòu huānyíng.) - This singer is very popular.
Correct: 他唱的歌很流行。(Tā chàng de gē hěn liúxíng.) - The songs he sings are very popular.
Incorrect: `这个歌手很流行。` This sounds strange, as if the singer themselves were a contagious disease or a fashion item.
Ignoring the “Epidemic” Context: Be mindful of the context. If you're in a hospital and say something is `流行`, people will assume you're talking about a disease, not a new movie. The context almost always makes the meaning clear.
`流行` vs. `经典 (jīngdiǎn)` (Classic): `流行` is for temporary trends. Don't use it to describe something timeless.
Correct: 旗袍是中国的经典服饰。(Qípáo shì Zhōngguó de jīngdiǎn fúshì.) - The Cheongsam is a classic Chinese garment.
Incorrect: `旗袍现在很流行。` (Unless there is a specific, new trend of wearing Cheongsams, in which case it could be correct, but generally it's considered a classic).
Related Terms and Concepts
时尚 (shíshàng) - Fashionable, stylish. More focused on a sense of style and aesthetics, often associated with the fashion industry.
时髦 (shímáo) - Stylish, in vogue. Similar to `时尚` but can sometimes sound slightly more colloquial or even a bit dated depending on the speaker.
潮流 (cháoliú) - Trend, tide. A noun that vividly describes a trend as a “tide” of fashion or culture. (e.g., `跟上潮流` - gēnshàng cháoliú - to keep up with the trend).
热门 (rèmén) - Literally “hot door.” Describes a topic, place, or item that is currently in high demand or receiving a lot of attention (e.g., a `热门` movie, a `热门` restaurant).
受欢迎 (shòu huānyíng) - Well-received, popular. Describes being liked by people. The focus is on the positive reception.
经典 (jīngdiǎn) - Classic. The opposite of a fleeting trend; something timeless and of high quality.
感冒 (gǎnmào) - To have a cold. The general term. `流行性感冒` is the specific term for the more severe influenza.
病毒 (bìngdú) - Virus. The agent that can cause a `流行` disease.
网红 (wǎnghóng) - Internet celebrity. A person who often leads or embodies what is `流行` on the internet.
火 (huǒ) - Fire, to be on fire. A very popular slang term for being extremely popular or viral. (e.g., `这首歌现在很火` - This song is on fire right now). It's a more informal synonym for `流行`.