# 随波逐流

suí bō zhú liú

Follow the crowd without direction

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Drift with the waves and current

**Traditional Chinese:** 隨波逐流

**Register:** Critical · general

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Criticize abandoning judgment to prevailing trends.

Adapting thoughtfully to circumstances is different.

## Understanding the expression

Water carries an object that makes no effort to choose its direction. The expression compares that drifting with a person who follows fashions, opinions, or pressures without deciding what matters to them. It usually criticizes passive conformity. The alternative need not be opposition to every trend; a popular choice can still be thoughtful. The essential question is whether reasons and values guide the decision or whether movement comes entirely from the crowd.

## Examples

选专业不能随波逐流。

### Traditional Chinese

選專業不能隨波逐流。

xuǎn zhuān yè bù néng suí bō zhú liú 。

Do not choose a major by following the crowd.

他随波逐流地买了热门股票。

### Traditional Chinese

他隨波逐流地買了熱門股票。

tā suí bō zhú liú dì mǎi le rè mén gǔ piào 。

He bought fashionable stocks without independent judgment.

她坚持自己的风格，不随波逐流。

### Traditional Chinese

她堅持自己的風格，不隨波逐流。

tā jiān chí zì jǐ de fēng gé ， bù suí bō zhú liú 。

She maintains her style rather than following trends.

面对谣言，我们不该随波逐流。

### Traditional Chinese

面對謠言，我們不該隨波逐流。

miàn duì yáo yán ， wǒ men bù gāi suí bō zhú liú 。

We should not simply join the crowd spreading rumors.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%9A%A8%E6%B3%A2%E9%80%90%E6%B5%81)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=490&webMd=1&la=0)

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