中流(ちゅうりゅう)

ちゅうりゅう
noun
middle class; midstream
societygeography
1. middle class, middle-income
The social stratum between upper and lower class. Japan has historically had a strong middle-class identity.
中流(ちゅうりゅう)家庭(かてい)で育(そだ)った。
I grew up in a middle-class household.
日本(にほん)では多(おお)くの人(ひと)が自分(じぶん)を中流(ちゅうりゅう)だと思(おも)っている。
In Japan, many people consider themselves middle class.
中流(ちゅうりゅう)意識(いしき)が薄(うす)れ、格差(かくさ)が広(ひろ)がっている。
Middle-class consciousness is fading and inequality is widening.
2. midstream, middle reaches of a river
The middle section of a river, between the upper and lower reaches.
川(かわ)の中流(ちゅうりゅう)で釣(つ)りをした。
I fished in the middle reaches of the river.
中流(ちゅうりゅう)域(いき)は流(なが)れが穏(おだ)やかだ。
The midstream area has a gentle current.
上流(じょうりゅう)から中流(ちゅうりゅう)にかけて、川幅(かわはば)が徐々(じょじょ)に広(ひろ)がる。
From the upper to the middle reaches, the river gradually widens.

Cultural note

The phrase 一億(いちおく)総(そう)中流(ちゅうりゅう) (100 million people, all middle class) described Japan's post-war sense of economic equality. This 中流(ちゅうりゅう)意識(いしき) (middle-class consciousness) has weakened since the 1990s.

Forms

中(ちゅう) (middle) + 流(りゅう) (stream, class)

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 上流(じょうりゅう) (upper class / upstream)
Related: 下流(かりゅう) (lower class / downstream)
Compare: 中間層(ちゅうかんそう) (middle class)
Compare: 中層(ちゅうそう) (middle layer)
general
Added 2026.2.16 10:06 · Revised 2026.10.14 21:25
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