流水 liúshuǐ running water
running water; (business) turnover
How to remember 流水: 流 flow + 水 water = running water.
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How it is used
- Literally running/flowing water - 小桥流水 (xiǎoqiáo liúshuǐ) a little bridge over flowing water (a classic poetic image).
- In business it means turnover/gross revenue - 今天的流水 (jīntiān de liúshuǐ) today's sales takings.
- Also in 流水线 (liúshuǐxiàn) 'assembly line' and 流水账 (liúshuǐzhàng) a running/blow-by-blow account.