piu1飄飘
Jyutpingpiu1
Yalepīu
Definition
To float, drift, or flutter in the air with the wind.
colloquialnaturedescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the gentle, often aimless movement of light objects like petals, clouds, or smoke through the air. It implies a sense of lightness and lack of resistance, contrasting with verbs like 飛 which suggest intentional or powered flight. It is frequently used to describe scents or sounds that travel through space to reach the speaker.
Examples
The clouds are slowly drifting across the sky.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe heavy objects or people moving through the air, as it specifically requires a sense of weightlessness. Do not confuse it with 漂, which shares the same character in some contexts but refers to floating on water or bleaching.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
