主流(しゅりゅう)

しゅりゅう
noun
mainstream
society
1. mainstream, predominant trend
The dominant or most widely accepted current of thought, practice, or culture. Can also refer literally to the main current of a river.
それが今(いま)の主流(しゅりゅう)だ。
That's the mainstream now.
オンライン授業(じゅぎょう)が主流(しゅりゅう)になりつつある。
Online classes are becoming the mainstream.
かつては手書(てが)きが主流(しゅりゅう)だったが、今(いま)はほとんどパソコンで作成(さくせい)する。
Handwriting used to be the norm, but now almost everything is done on a computer.

主流(しゅりゅう) literally means "main stream" (of a river) but is overwhelmingly used figuratively to mean the dominant trend, prevailing practice, or mainstream.

Common collocations

  • 主流(しゅりゅう)になる: to become mainstream
  • 主流(しゅりゅう)から外(はず)れる: to deviate from the mainstream
  • 主流(しゅりゅう)派(は): mainstream faction
  • 主流(しゅりゅう)を占(し)める: to dominate the mainstream

Similar words

  • 主流(しゅりゅう): mainstream (dominant trend)
  • メインストリーム: mainstream (loanword, less common)
  • 傍流(ぼうりゅう): offshoot, minor stream (opposite)
  • 本流(ほんりゅう): main current (more literal, river/lineage)

Usage

Often used to describe shifting trends: かつてはAが主流(しゅりゅう)だったが、今(いま)はBが主流(しゅりゅう)だ (A used to be mainstream, but now B is).

Related Words

Compare: 本流(ほんりゅう) (main current)
general
Added 2026.2.16 16:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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