The word "飘飘然" is formed by reduplicating the character "飘" (meaning to float or flutter) to create "飘飘", intensifying the sense of lightness or instability, and then appending the suffix "然" (meaning "in the manner of"), which converts the descriptive action into an adjectival or adverbial state, literally conveying "in a floating manner" and figuratively implying a feeling of light-headedness or smugness.