一流
yī líu HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

这家餐厅的服务是一流的。
Zhè jiā cāntīng de fúwù shì yīliú de.
The service at this restaurant is first-rate.
他毕业于世界一流的大学。
Tā bìyè yú shìjiè yīliú de dàxué.
He graduated from a world-class university.
我们需要一流的人才来工作。
Wǒmen xūyào yīliú de réncái lái gōngzuò.
We need top-quality talent to work.
这家餐厅是一流的。
Zhè jiā cāntīng shì yīliú de.
This restaurant is first-rate.
他是一流的学生。
Tā shì yīliú de xuéshēng.
He is a top-notch student.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 一流 as 'number one in the flow'—imagine a river where the first stream is the clearest and fastest, representing the best quality. You can also associate it with the English phrase 'first-rate,' as both share the idea of being at the top level.

📝 Usage Notes

一流 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, in both spoken and written Chinese. It is frequently applied to praise the quality of products, services, talents, institutions, or performances, such as in reviews, advertisements, or casual compliments.

📖 Grammar Points

一流 is primarily used as an attributive adjective before nouns (e.g., 一流的餐厅, 'first-class restaurant') or as a predicate in sentences with 是 (e.g., 他的技术是一流的, 'His skills are top-notch'). It can also be used adverbially in some contexts, like 一流地完成工作 ('to complete work in a first-class manner').

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, emphasizing 'first-class' status reflects a value placed on excellence, competitiveness, and social recognition. It is often used in educational and professional contexts to denote prestige, such as in describing top universities or companies, aligning with cultural appreciation for achievement and hierarchy.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 顶级 (dǐngjí, 'top-level,' often more extreme) and 优秀 (yōuxiù, 'excellent,' but more general). 一流 specifically implies a ranking or classification within a group, suggesting it is at the forefront, whereas 优秀 is a broader term for high quality without the same hierarchical nuance.

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