drift; fall; wander; live an unstable life
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
(of flowers, leaves, etc.) to drift and fall; to flutter down
literaryUsed for light objects like leaves, petals, or snowflakes falling gently through the air. Often carries a poetic, sometimes melancholic connotation.
Qiū秋
fēng风
sè瑟
sè瑟
，
kū枯
yè叶
piāo飘
líng零
。
The autumn wind rustles, and withered leaves drift down.
Yīng樱
huā花
piāo飘
líng零
，
yì意
wèi味
zhe着
chūn春
tiān天
jí即
jiāng将
jié结
shù束
。
Cherry blossoms fluttering down signify the imminent end of spring.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Chuāng窗
wài外
dà大
xuě雪
fēn纷
fēi飞
，
xuě雪
huā花
piāo飘
líng零
。
Outside the window, heavy snow is swirling, and snowflakes are drifting down.
verb
to wander; to drift; to lead an unstable, rootless life
literaryA metaphorical extension of the first meaning, describing a person's life as unstable, wandering, and without a fixed home or support.
Zhàn战
zhēng争
shǐ使
tā他
sì四
chù处
piāo飘
líng零
，
wú无
jiā家
kě可
guī归
。
The war made him wander everywhere, homeless.
Tā她
piāo飘
líng零
bàn半
shì世
，
zhōng终
yú于
zhǎo找
dào到
le了
guī归
sù宿
。
After drifting through half her life, she finally found a place to belong.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
guò过
zhe着
piāo飘
líng零
de的
shēng生
huó活
，
cóng从
yí一
gè个
chéng城
shì市
bān搬
dào到
lìng另
yí一
gè个
chéng城
shì市
。
He lives a rootless life, moving from one city to another.