下流へ
解説 Definition
川や流れの下方向、流れに沿って下流の方へ。下流域へ、または下流に向かって。
Downstream means in the direction that a river or stream flows. It can also be used more generally for a later stage in a process, system, or chain of events. The opposite idea is upstream.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず stream を「流れ」、upstream を「上流へ」とセットで覚えると、downstream はその反対で「流れに乗って下流へ」と取りやすくなります。川・ボート・汚染物質などが水に押されて先へ進む場面を思い浮かべると定着しやすいです。比喩的に「工程の後段」「後に影響が及ぶ側」にも使われるので、upstream/downstream を“流れの前後関係”として対で整理すると忘れにくい語です。
Break it into `down` + `stream`. Picture water moving along a river, and imagine something carried farther in that same direction. Also remember the pattern `downstream from`, which helps you connect the word with place as well as movement.
例文
The pollution spreads downstream from the factory.
汚染は工場から下流へ広がる。
The fishing village is located downstream from the dam.
漁村はダムから下流に位置している。
The river flows downstream toward the ocean.
川は下流へ向かって海に流れ込む。
downstream の類義語・関連語
downstream の語源・成り立ち Etymology
downstream は英語の複合語で、down は古英語由来の「下へ」、stream は古英語 stream「流れ」です。upstream や streamline と比べると、水の流れる向きに沿って先へ進むイメージから「下流へ」「工程の後段で」の意味が自然に理解できます。
"Downstream" is a native English compound of "down" and "stream." Both parts go back to Old English, with "stream" meaning a current of water. The image first meant moving in the direction the water flows, and later grew into wider uses such as later stages in a process.
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