1.
tributary; branch stream; affluent
A river or stream that flows into a larger river rather than directly into the sea. Also used figuratively for offshoots or secondary branches of movements or schools of thought.
この川は利根川の支流だ。
This river is a tributary of the Tone River.
支流が合流して大きな川になる。
The tributaries merge and become a large river.
多摩川にはいくつもの支流があり、それぞれ独自の生態系を持っている。
The Tama River has numerous tributaries, each with its own unique ecosystem.
Combines 支 (branch/support) and 流 (flow/stream). The 支 character indicates something secondary or branching off from the main, as in 支店 (branch office) or 支線 (branch line).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 支流に分かれる: branch off into tributaries
- 支流が合流する: tributaries converge
- 最大の支流: the largest tributary
- 支流をさかのぼる: go upstream along a tributary
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 本流: main stream, main current — the primary river into which tributaries flow; also used figuratively for the mainstream of a movement
- 源流: headwaters, source — the origin point of a river; figuratively, the origin of something
- 合流: confluence, merging — the point where rivers join together