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漂移 (piāo yí) — to drift (be carried by a current, wind, or similar force); drift (gradual shift in electronic signals, measurement values, or vehicle trajectory)

Definition

Literally 'float + shift': drift, in the sense of being carried (by wind, water, or a vehicle's motion), or of values/signal changing gradually over time.

verb
to drift (be carried by a current, wind, or similar force)drift (gradual shift in electronic signals, measurement values, or vehicle trajectory)

Examples

  • 漂移。
    Fú bīng suí zhe yáng liú xiàng nán piāo yí.
    The ice floes drifted south with the ocean current.
  • 漂移。
    Cè liáng zhí suí shí jiān huǎn màn piāo yí.
    The measurement value drifts slowly over time.
  • 漂移，。
    Tā zài sài dào shàng piāo yí, yǐn qǐ guān zhòng huān hū.
    He drifted on the racetrack, causing the audience to cheer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

漂piāofloat
移yímove

漂 (float) and 移 (move) are two related actions meaning drift.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào漂piǎo
Same sound today

漂 pairs 氵 (water) with 票, which gives its sound.

Open 漂 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
多
多duō移
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

移 pairs 禾, a grain plant, with 多, which gives the sound.

Open 移 →
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