river、brook与stream这些名词均有“江、河”之意。
river : 泛指一般的江河。
- 历史长河波澜壮阔，一代又一代人接续奋斗创造了今天的中国。
Wave upon wave, the mighty river of history surges forward. With the persistent efforts of one generation after another, we have taken China to where it is today.
——习近平主席2023年新年贺词（双语全文）
brook : 指小河，尤指发源于山泉的小河。
- The brook trickled through the valley.
小溪涓涓流过峡谷。
stream : 泛指大小河流，也可专指小溪。
- 因为有流沙，这条小河每逢度假旺季都会淹死几个不小心的游客。
With its quicksands the stream usually drowns a few unwary visitors every holiday season.
