fau4浮
Jyutpingfau4
Yalefàuh
Definition
Floating, or otherwise volatile and unstable.
- floating on the surface of a liquid
- volatile; unstable; superficial
colloquialnaturedescriptions
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of objects resting on water, this word is frequently used metaphorically to describe things that are unstable, superficial, or lacking a solid foundation. When applied to people or abstract concepts, it implies a lack of focus or a tendency to drift without commitment. It carries a slightly negative connotation when describing someone's character or a situation that feels unreliable.
Examples
The ball is floating on the surface of the water.
Do you think this plan is realistic or just up in the air?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe something that is simply light in weight; for that, use 輕. Also, do not confuse it with 飄, which specifically refers to things moving through the air or drifting with the wind rather than resting on a liquid surface.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
