支流 zhīliú tributary (river)
How to remember 支流: 支 branch + 流 flow = tributary (river).
Characters
How it is used
- A tributary that feeds a main river - 长江有众多支流 (Chángjiāng yǒu zhòngduō zhīliú) the Yangtze has many tributaries.
- Contrast 干流 (gànliú, main stream). Figuratively it can mean a secondary or minor strand of something.
Example sentences
- 亚马逊河有很多支流。 Yàmǎxùnhé yǒu hěnduō zhīliú.The Amazon is fed by a large number of tributaries.