to exchange; communication
HSK level
交流 is written with 16 strokes (交: 6, 流: 10). The animation replays automatically.
交流 (jiāoliú) is a verb and noun meaning 'to exchange / communicate' — a two-way flow of ideas, information, experience, or culture between people or groups.
Literally 'hand-over flow,' it pictures things moving back and forth. As a verb it takes no object as easily as English 'communicate' does: 我们交流一下 ('let's exchange thoughts'), or with an explicit topic, 交流经验 ('exchange experience'). English speakers should note it is mutual by default — 交流 implies both sides give and receive, unlike one-directional 'to tell.'
It also skews toward substantive exchange (ideas, culture, academic work), not idle chatter, for which 聊天 (liáotiān 'to chat') fits better. Common in formal and semi-formal contexts: 文化交流 ('cultural exchange'), 交流经验 ('share experience'), 学术交流 ('academic exchange').
Character by character
Memory hook: Ideas 'cross and flow' (交 cross + 流 flow) between two people — that's communication.
我们经常在网上交流。
Wǒmen jīngcháng zài wǎngshàng jiāoliú.
We often communicate online.
spoken
这次会议是为了交流经验。
Zhè cì huìyì shì wèile jiāoliú jīngyàn.
This meeting is for exchanging experience.
neutral
两国之间的文化交流越来越多。
Liǎng guó zhījiān de wénhuà jiāoliú yuèláiyuè duō.
Cultural exchange between the two countries is growing.
written
有问题我们可以多交流。
Yǒu wèntí wǒmen kěyǐ duō jiāoliú.
If there are issues, we can communicate more.
spoken
沟通 emphasizes reaching mutual understanding, often to resolve a gap or problem (与客户沟通 'communicate with clients'). 交流 emphasizes the exchange of content itself (ideas, culture). Use 沟通 when the goal is alignment; 交流 when the goal is sharing.
交换 is literally 'to swap' concrete or abstract things one-for-one (交换名片 'exchange business cards', 交换意见 'exchange opinions'). 交流 is a broader, ongoing flow rather than a discrete swap.
Acquire it by listening
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