drift on water; roam; wander
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to drift on water; to float downstream
Often used for objects or boats moving passively with the water current. Can also be used metaphorically for going with the flow.
Qiū秋
tiān天
，
hé河
miàn面
shàng上
piāo飘
liú流
zhe着
xǔ许
duō多
luò落
yè叶
。
In autumn, many fallen leaves drift on the river surface.
Tā他
men们
chéng乘
mù木
fá筏
yán沿
zhe着
Cháng长
Jiāng江
piāo飘
liú流
，
jìn进
xíng行
kē科
xué学
kǎo考
chá察
。
They rode a raft drifting along the Yangtze River to conduct scientific research.
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Nà那
zhī只
xiǎo小
chuán船
zài在
píng平
jìng静
de的
hú湖
miàn面
shàng上
piāo飘
liú流
。
That small boat drifts on the calm surface of the lake.
verb
to roam; to wander; to lead a drifting life
literaryUsed figuratively to describe a life without a fixed home or purpose, often with a sense of hardship or aimlessness.
Nián年
qīng轻
shí时
tā他
piāo飘
liú流
sì四
hǎi海
，
xún寻
qiú求
rén人
shēng生
de的
yì意
yì义
。
When he was young, he roamed the world seeking the meaning of life.
Zhàn战
zhēng争
jié结
shù束
hòu后
，
xǔ许
duō多
nàn难
mín民
bèi被
pò迫
zài在
wài外
piāo飘
liú流
。
After the war ended, many refugees were forced to wander abroad.
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Tā他
de的
líng灵
hún魂
fǎng仿
fú佛
yī一
zhí直
zài在
shì世
jiān间
piāo飘
liú流
，
zhǎo找
bù不
dào到
guī归
sù宿
。
His soul seems to have been drifting in the world all along, unable to find a home.