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浮动 (fú dòng) — to drift, to float unsteadily (e.g., on water or in the air); to fluctuate, to be changeable (e.g., prices, mood, exchange rates)

Definition

浮动 is mainly 'to fluctuate' for prices, rates, and emotions — a steadier, more measured change than 起伏. The literal sense of 'drift, float unsteadily' echoes 漂浮/漂流 but is rarely used today.

verb
to driftto float unsteadily (e.g., on water or in the air)to fluctuateto be changeable (e.g., prices, mood, exchange rates)

Examples

  • 浮动。
    Qì qiú zài kōng zhōng qīng qīng fú dòng.
    The balloon drifted gently in the air.
  • 浮动。
    Jīn nián rén mín bì de huì lǜ fú dòng jiào dà.
    The exchange rate of the RMB has fluctuated considerably this year.
  • 浮动。
    Tā de tài dù zǒng shì fú dòng bú dìng.
    His attitude is always fluctuating and uncertain.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

浮fúfloat
动dòngmove

浮 (float) and 动 (move) combine to describe drifting or fluctuating movement.

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
水水shuǐriver
Sound part声符shēngfú
孚
孚fú浮fú
Same sound today

浮 pairs 水 (river) with 孚, which gives the sound; the river part points to its meaning of floating.

Open 浮 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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