piu1漂
Jyutpingpiu1
Yalepīu
Definition
To float or drift on water, moving slowly with the current.
colloquialnaturedaily actions
How it's used
Use this verb specifically for objects or people moving along the surface of a liquid. It implies a lack of control or propulsion, suggesting the subject is at the mercy of the current or wind. When describing something that is stationary but on the surface, 浮 is often preferred over 漂.
Examples
The leaves are floating on the water surface.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 飄, which is used for things floating or drifting in the air, like clouds or smoke. Using 漂 for things in the air is a common error.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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).
