Definition
漂流 (piāoliú) means 'to drift' — physically on water or metaphorically in life. Unlike 漂浮 (piāofú), which can also mean floating in air or being superficial, 漂流 specifically implies being carried along by a current (water or life). It is stronger than 飘 (piāo) in suggesting a directional flow, not just hovering.
verb
to driftto float (physically on water or metaphorically in life)
Examples
- 漂流。Zhè tiáo xiǎo chuán zài hé shàng huǎnhuǎn piāo liú.This small boat is slowly drifting on the river.
- 漂流，。Tā bìyè hòu yìzhí zài shèhuì shàng piāo liú, méiyǒu zhǎodào fāngxiàng.After graduation, he has been drifting in society without finding direction.
- 漂流。Tā de sīxù suízhe yīnyuè qīngqīng piāo liú.Her thoughts drifted gently with the music.
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