Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To go downstream; to travel in the direction of the water's flow: The primary meaning describes the movement of a boat, vessel, or object along a river or stream, following the current from a higher point to a lower point.
   • To go with the flow; to conform: A figurative meaning describing the act of conforming to prevailing trends, opinions, or circumstances without resistance.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning:
  • Con thuyền đang xuôi dòng về phía biển. (The boat is going downstream towards the sea.)
  • Chúng tôi chèo thuyền xuôi dòng sông. (We rowed the boat downstream.)
• Figurative meaning:
  • Trong cuộc họp, anh ấy chỉ biết xuôi dòng theo ý kiến số đông. (In the meeting, he could only go with the flow of the majority opinion.)
  • Đôi khi, xuôi dòng là cách dễ dàng nhất. (Sometimes, going with the flow is the easiest way.)

Advanced Usage

• "xuôi dòng nước": An extended form emphasizing "with the water current." It can be used both literally and figuratively for added emphasis.
  • Chiếc bè trôi xuôi dòng nước. (The raft drifted downstream.)
• "thuận buồm xuôi gió": A common idiom meaning "smooth sailing." While it includes the concept of favorable movement (xuôi), it is a fixed phrase and not a direct usage of "xuôi dòng" alone.
  • Công việc của anh ấy lúc nào cũng thuận buồm xuôi gió. (His work is always smooth sailing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Xuôi (adj/adv): Down, downstream, favorable. Can indicate direction or a smooth, favorable condition.
  • gió xuôi (favorable wind)
• Ngược dòng (verb phrase): The direct antonym, meaning "to go upstream" or "to go against the flow/trend."
  • Cá hồi bơi ngược dòng để đẻ trứng. (Salmon swim upstream to spawn.)
• Dòng chảy (n): The flow, current (of water, but also of ideas, trends).
  • dòng chảy của lịch sử (the flow of history)

Synonyms

• Đi theo dòng: To go with the current.
• Chảy xuôi: To flow down (often for water itself).
• Thuận theo: To comply with, to follow along.

Related Phrases

• Xuôi tay: (Verb phrase) Literally "down hands," meaning to handle something easily or to go along with something passively.
  • Cứ xuôi tay cho xong việc. (Just go along with it to get the job done.)
• Xuôi chèo mát mái: (Idiomatic phrase) Similar to "smooth sailing," indicating a very easy and comfortable progression.

Related Idioms

• "Xuôi dòng nước lớn": To go with the major current/trend. This emphasizes following the dominant or powerful flow.
  • Công ty đó biết cách xuôi dòng nước lớn của thị trường. (That company knows how to go with the major current of the market.)
• "Thuận vợ thuận chồng, tát biển Đông cũng cạn": While not containing "xuôi dòng," this proverb about harmony shares the conceptual theme of things going smoothly ("thuận") when there is alignment.

1. down stream
2. down stream