verb / adjective HSK 4
to float · to drift · superficial · temporary
Meaning
浮 describes something that floats on water or in air, or drifts without being fixed in place. It also carries the metaphorical meaning of being superficial, shallow, or not deeply rooted—like something floating on the surface rather than being grounded.
Usage
Commonly used in both literal contexts (objects floating in water) and figurative ones (superficial emotions, fleeting ideas). Often appears in compound words like 浮躁 (impatient/impetuous) or 漂浮 (to float/drift). In literary contexts, it can suggest transience or lack of substance.
Examples
- 01木头能浮在水面上。.Wood can float on the water surface.
- 02他做事太浮躁，需要沉下心来。, .He's too impetuous in his work; he needs to calm down and focus.
Common collocations
- 浮在水面上to float on the water surface
- 浮云floating clouds
- 浮力buoyancy
- 心浮气躁restless and impatient
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines the water radical 氵(water) with 孚 (phonetic component, also suggesting sincerity/trust), originally depicting something suspended in water.