Definitions

(verb) to float; to drift
(adjective) superficial; unstable
(adjective) temporary; provisional
(adjective) excessive; superfluous

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Composed of the water radical 氵 on the left, which establishes its semantic category, and the component 孚 (fú) on the right, which provides its phonetic value, the character 浮 originally denoted the physical act of floating. From this concrete image of buoyancy, its meaning abstracted to describe things that are unsteady or transient, reflecting how floating objects are easily moved. This shift further extended to convey superficiality, characterizing thoughts or behaviors that lack depth or a solid foundation.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

木头在水上。

Mùtou fú zài shuǐ shàng.

Wood floats on water.

气球在空中。

Qìqiú fú zài kōngzhōng.

Balloons float in the air.

树叶在池塘里。

Shùyè fú zài chítáng lǐ.

Leaves float in the pond.

他的心里起一丝希望。

Tā de xīnlǐ fú qǐ yīsī xīwàng.

A glimmer of hope rises in his heart.

不要有躁的情绪。

Bùyào yǒu fúzào de qíngxù.

Don't have impetuous emotions.

这幅画给人一种夸的感觉。

Zhè fú huà gěi rén yī zhǒng fúkuā de gǎnjué.

This painting gives people a feeling of exaggeration.

他的解释过于浅,缺乏深度。

Tā de jiěshì guòyú fúqiǎn, quēfá shēndù.

His explanation is too superficial and lacks depth.

在浩瀚的宇宙中,地球犹如一叶舟。

Zài hàohàn de yǔzhòu zhōng, dìqiú yóurú yī yè fú zhōu.

In the vast universe, the Earth is like a floating boat.