気流(きりゅう)

きりゅう
noun
air current; airflow
1. air current; airflow (esp. in the atmosphere)
A flow of air on a meteorological scale — a current or stream of air in the atmosphere. Used in weather reports, aviation, and discussions of climate. The most familiar example for travelers is 乱気流(らんきりゅう) ("turbulence"), the patches of disturbed airflow that buffet aircraft.
冷(つめ)たい気流(きりゅう)が流(なが)れ込(こ)んできた。
A cold air current has flowed in.
飛行機(ひこうき)が乱気流(らんきりゅう)に巻(ま)き込(こ)まれて揺(ゆ)れた。
The plane was caught in turbulence and shook.
上空(じょうくう)の偏西風(へんせいふう)は強(つよ)い気流(きりゅう)で、長距離(ちょうきょり)飛行(ひこう)に大(おお)きな影響(えいきょう)を与(あた)える。
The westerlies high above are a strong air current that significantly affects long-distance flights.
大気(たいき)の動(うご)きや気流(きりゅう)の変化(へんか)を観測(かんそく)することで、天気予報(てんきよほう)の精度(せいど)が上(あ)がってきた。
Forecast accuracy has improved thanks to the observation of atmospheric motion and changes in air currents.

気流(きりゅう) refers to flowing masses of air in the atmosphere. It appears regularly in weather reports, aviation safety announcements, and climate science. The most common compound is 乱気流(らんきりゅう) ("turbulence"), which most flyers encounter the term through.

FORMATION:

  • 気(き) ("air, atmosphere") + 流(りゅう) ("flow, current") → 気流(きりゅう)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 乱気流(らんきりゅう): turbulence (literally "chaotic air current")
  • 上昇(じょうしょう)気流(きりゅう): updraft, rising air current
  • 下降(かこう)気流(きりゅう): downdraft, descending air current
  • 寒気(かんき)気流(きりゅう) / 暖気(だんき)気流(きりゅう): cold air current / warm air current
  • ジェット(じぇっと)気流(きりゅう): jet stream
  • 気流(きりゅう)に乗る(にのる): to ride an air current (e.g., gliders, birds)
  • 気流(きりゅう)が乱(みだ)れる: for the airflow to become disturbed

SIMILAR / RELATED TERMS:

  • 風(かぜ): wind (the everyday word for air movement near the ground)
  • 大気(たいき): the atmosphere (the air mass as a whole)
  • 偏西風(へんせいふう): the westerlies
  • 季節風(きせつふう): monsoon winds
  • 台風(たいふう): typhoon
  • 気象(きしょう): weather, meteorology

USAGE NOTES:

  • 気流(きりゅう) is more technical and large-scale than 風(かぜ). You feel a 風(かぜ) on your face; an aircraft passes through 気流(きりゅう) at altitude.
  • In aviation announcements, the standard phrasing for turbulence is 乱気流(らんきりゅう)に巻(ま)き込(こ)まれる ("to be caught in turbulence") or 乱気流(らんきりゅう)が予想(よそう)される ("turbulence is anticipated").
  • Birds and glider pilots are often described as 上昇(じょうしょう)気流(きりゅう)に乗(の)る ("riding rising air currents") to gain altitude.
general
Added 2026.5.10 10:56
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