piu1 bok6飄泊飘泊
Jyutpingpiu1 bok6
Yalepīu bohk
Definition
To drift about without a fixed home, leading a wandering or nomadic life.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional weight of being away from home, often implying a sense of loneliness or lack of stability. While it can describe physical movement, it is most frequently used metaphorically to describe someone living without a permanent base. It carries a more literary or poetic tone than simply saying 出去闖蕩.
Examples
He has been drifting about in foreign countries for these few years.
Is it tough for you to live a wandering life out there all by yourself?
Related words
Common phrases
wandering in a foreign land
drifting from place to place
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 漂流, which is typically used for inanimate objects or people literally floating on water. 飄泊 is almost exclusively reserved for human life experiences and the feeling of homelessness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
