Japanese word

漂う

Pronunciation

Romajitadayou

Meaning

  • verbdrift

Example

風船が空に漂います。fū sen ga sora ni tadayo i ma su

The balloon drifts in the sky.

Illustration for 漂う (drift)

More examples

雨上がりの庭に花の香りが漂います。ame a ga ri no niwa ni hana no kao ri ga tadayo i ma su

The scent of flowers drifts through the garden after the rain.

Core concept

Refers to moving slowly while being carried by a current, with no firm direction or destination.

Common phrases

  • 空に漂うsora ni tadayo u

    drift in the sky

  • 音が漂うoto ga tadayo u

    sound drifts

  • 香りが部屋に漂うkao ri ga heya ni tadayo u

    a scent drifts through the room

Similar words

流れるnagareru: To move along with water or air, or spread through a place.
漂流するhyōryūsuru: To drift without control, often on water and over a long distance.

Definition in Japanese

一定の場所にとどまらず、流れに任せてゆっくり動く。it tei no ba sho ni to do ma ra zu naga re ni maka se te yu kku ri ugo ku

Word origin

漂う (tadayō) is a native Japanese verb that was formerly written 漂ふ (tadayō); the verb's original word formation is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • 漂う (tadayō) can describe an unseen thing such as a scent or mood that seems to linger and spread through a place.

Other meanings

  • floatverb

Word lists with this word