(1) [the three religions (Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism) and the nine schools of thought (the Confucians, the Taoists, the Yin-Yang, the Legalists, the Logicians, the Mohists, the Political Strategists, the Ecletics and the Agriculturists)]∶三教指儒教、 道教、 佛教, 九流指儒家者流、 阴阳家者流、 道家者流、 法家者流、 名家者流、 墨家者流、 纵横家者流、 杂家者流、 农家者流

(2) [various religious sects and academic schools]∶宗教学术中的各种流派

(3) [people in various trades]∶各行各业的人--常含贬义

sān jiào jiǔ liú

the Three Religions (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism) and Nine Schools (Confucians, Daoists, Yin-Yang, Legalists, Logicians, Mohists, Political Strategists, Eclectics, Agriculturists)

fig. people from all trades (often derog.)

(指儒、佛、道三教及其他各家) the three religions and the nine schools of thought; the three religions and the nine systems (schools) of philosophy; the three religions and the nine wisdoms; the three cults and nine schools (儒教 Confucianism; 佛教 Buddhism; 道教 Taoism; 儒家 the Confucians; 道家 the Taoists; 阴阳家 the Yin-Yang; 法家 the Legalists; 名家 the Logicians; 墨家 the Mohists; 纵横家 the Political Strategists; 杂家 the Eclectics; 农家 the Agriculturists)

(指宗教 、学术中各流派)various religious sects and academic schools; adherents of different religions and sects

(贬) (江湖上各色人等) people in various trades; people of all sorts; people of different low professions; men of dubious (all) trades

1) the Three Doctrines and the Nine Schools

2) derog. people of all walks of life

【释义】旧指宗教或学术上的各种流派。也指社会上各行各业的人。

【近义】三姑六婆、五行八作

【反义】正人君子

【出处】宋·赵彦卫《云麓漫钞》卷六：“（梁武）帝问三教九流及汉朝旧事，了如目前。”

【用例】他是个社会活动家，朋友遍及三教九流。

1) 三教：儒、佛、道。九流：儒家、道家、阴阳家、法家、名家、墨家、纵横家、杂家、农家。后以“三教九流”泛指宗教和学术的各种流派。

2) 泛指各色人物或各种行当。