---
title: "Zhiliu Meaning: 支流 (tributary) or 滞留 (to be stranded)?"
description: "支流 (zhīliú) means “tributary (river)”. Not the zhiliu you heard? See 滞留. Hear its tones, see what 支 and 流 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zhiliu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 支流 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

支流 zhīliú

## tributary (river)

## It can also mean

- minor aspect; offshoot

## Its characters

1. 支 zhī branch
2. 流 liú to flow

## In a sentence

这条河有很多支流。 This river has many tributaries.

[More about 支流](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%94%AF%E6%B5%81)

## Other words said zhiliu

- [滞留zhìliúto be stranded](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%BB%9E%E7%95%99)

## More words with 支 or 流

- [潮流 cháoliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chaoliu)
- [风流 fēngliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fengliu)
- [分支 fēnzhī](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fenzhi)
- [河流 héliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/heliu)
- [交流 jiāoliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiaoliu)
- [开支 kāizhī](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kaizhi)
- [客流 kèliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/keliu)
- [流畅 liúchàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liuchang)
- [流程 liúchéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liucheng)
- [流传 liúchuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liuchuan)

## Keep 支流 for Review

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