Japanese word

浮かべる

Pronunciation

Romajiukaberu

Meaning

  • verbfloat

Example

水に船を浮かべます。mizu ni fune o u ka be ma su

I float a boat on the water.

Illustration for 浮かべる (float)

More examples

お風呂におもちゃを浮かべます。o fu ro ni o mo cha o u ka be ma su

I float toys in the bath.

Core concept

Describes bringing something into a state where it stays visible on a surface or appears clearly, such as a boat on water, a smile on a face, or an idea in the mind.

Common phrases

  • ボートを浮かべるbō to o u ka be ru

    launch a boat

  • 水面に船を浮かべるsui men ni fune o u ka be ru

    float a boat on the water

Similar words

浮かすukasu: To lift something so that it floats freely instead of staying below or attached.

Definition in Japanese

沈まないように物を水面などに置く。shizu ma na i yō ni mono o sui men na do ni o ku

Word origin

浮かべる (ukaberu) comes from 浮く (uku, "to float") and refers to making an object take on that floating state.

Usage tips

  • The expression 涙を浮かべる (namida o ukaberu) means to have tears well up in the eyes, showing how the word can describe something becoming visible on the face.

Other meanings

  • launchverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 浮かべ方ukabekataway to float somethingnoun

Word lists with this word