漂 (piāo) - To float & to drift

漂Tone 1

piāo ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

柠七

漂 · piāo

To float;

to drift;

to be tossed by waves;

also, to bleach or rinse.

To floatto driftto be tossed by waves

Usage highlights

To driftTo floatTo drift aimlesslyTo bleachBeautiful and elegantTo wash and rinse

Synonyms

  • 浮— to float
  • 荡— to swing; to drift
  • 流— to flow

Antonyms

  • 沉— to sink
  • 定— to settle; fixed

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The boat drifted on the river (在河上漂流).
  • She is rinsing clothes (漂衣服).
  • Leaves float on the water (漂浮在水上).
  • He has a drifting lifestyle (漂泊的生活).

Collocations

  • To drift(漂流)
  • To float(漂浮)
  • To drift aimlessly(漂泊)
  • To bleach(漂白)
  • Beautiful and elegant(漂亮)
  • To wash and rinse(漂洗)

Idioms

  • Wandering aimlessly, homeless(漂蓬断梗)
  • Drifting with the wind and sleeping in the open(漂风泊露)
  • Floating clouds and running water(浮云漂水)
  • Drifting duck and wild goose(漂凫断雁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Evokes imagery of transience, freedom, and a wandering lifestyle in classical poetry.
  • Used metaphorically to describe an unsettled or rootless existence.
  • The compound 漂亮 (piàoliang) is a common word for 'beautiful' or 'pretty'.

FAQ