Translation guide
Describes movement, location, or direction relative to the flow of a river or process. In Japanese, the core word is 下流 (かりゅう), but natural expression often depends on context.
Describing physical movement or location along a river toward its mouth.
Noun meaning 'downstream' or 'lower reaches of a river'. Used with particles like に, へ, で, の.
その町は川の下流にある。
The town is downstream on the river.
下流に向かってカヌーを漕いだ。
We paddled the canoe downstream.
Literally 'river-down', a common word for downstream area or direction. Slightly more colloquial than 下流.
川下の方に橋が見える。
You can see a bridge downstream.
Means 'toward the downstream area'. 方 (ほう) adds a sense of direction.
下流の方を探してみよう。
Let's search downstream.
Referring to later stages in a sequence, such as data flow, supply chain, or biological pathways.
Also used metaphorically for downstream processes in business, IT, or science.
データの下流処理を担当しています。
I'm in charge of downstream data processing.
Means 'later stage' or 'subsequent step'. Common in engineering and business contexts.
In business, 川下 refers to downstream industries or markets closer to consumers (vs. 川上, upstream).
Describing the action of going downstream, often with verbs of motion.
Pattern meaning 'to go down along the flow'. Natural for describing movement downstream.
流れに沿って下ると、小さな滝があった。
Going downstream, we found a small waterfall.
Means 'flows downstream'. Often used for objects or substances carried by the current.
落ち葉が下流へと流れていった。
The fallen leaves drifted downstream.
Both mean 'downstream', but 下流 (かりゅう) is more formal and often used in written or technical contexts. 川下 (かわしも) is common in everyday speech and emphasizes the river itself. For figurative uses, 下流 is standard.
Use 下流に for direction or existence (e.g., 下流にある), and 下流で for actions taking place there (e.g., 下流で釣りをする).
後段の工程で品質チェックを行います。
Quality checks are performed at the downstream stage.
川下の小売業者との連携が重要だ。
Collaboration with downstream retailers is important.