Meanings of 漂
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 漂
Podcast: 漂
Podcast: 漂
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 漂
漂 (piāo) vs 飘 (piāo) — use 漂 for floating/drifting with a focus on water or air, while 飘 emphasizes a lighter, more carefree drifting.
Imagine a beautiful, elegant boat (漂) gracefully floating (漂) on a serene lake. The boat is not just floating but is also polished and shining in the sunlight, emphasizing both the physical act of floating and the aesthetic quality of elegance.
Be careful not to confuse 漂 with its similar-sounding counterpart 漂亮 (piàoliang), which means 'pretty' or 'beautiful.' While 漂 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, its more poetic applications might be best suited for literary or artistic discussions. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronunciation could change the meaning.
Although 漂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other HSK words related to movement and appearance, such as 流 (liú, to flow) and 漂亮 (piàoliang, pretty). Focus on using 漂 in sentences that describe physical actions or characteristics to solidify your understanding.
In Chinese culture, the concept of floating (漂) can be associated with tranquility and grace, often found in poetry and art that depict nature. This character may evoke imagery of traditional Chinese paintings featuring serene landscapes with drifting boats.
Learners often confuse 漂 with its related forms. For example, saying '我漂了' (Wǒ piāole) to mean 'I am elegant' is incorrect; it should be '我很漂亮' (Wǒ hěn piàoliang). Additionally, learners might misuse the tone, pronouncing it as 'piào' instead of 'piāo.'
Pronunciation of 漂
Drill the tone of 漂 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 漂
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 票 represents the sound.
water
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 漂?
Decomposition of 漂
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 漂?
Write 漂
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 漂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 漂
漂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
____亮的花开了。
The beautiful flowers bloomed.
Example Sentences for 漂 (10)
Cultural Notes for 漂
In Chinese culture, the concept of floating (漂) can be associated with tranquility and grace, often found in poetry and art that depict nature. This character may evoke imagery of traditional Chinese paintings featuring serene landscapes with drifting boats.
Word Family of 漂
Compound Meaning
What does 漂亮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 漂
You can use 漂 like this: '船在水面上漂' (The boat is floating on the water).