漂

3 readings · tap one to hear it

to float; to drift

Sound it out + + = · + + = · + + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

氵 meaning “water” + 票 sound ( piào )

Components 氵票

drift · Heisig RSH #1257

水 water + 票 ticket

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
漂洋过海	piāo yáng guò hǎi	(idiom) to cross the ocean; to cross the seas
漂白水	piǎo bái shuǐ	bleach
打水漂	dǎ shuǐ piāo	to skip stones (on water); (coll.) to squander one's money on a bad investment
漂流者	piāo liú zhě	drifter; whitewater rafter
漂白剂	piǎo bái jì	bleach
洋漂族	yáng piāo zú	lit. ocean drifting people; job-hopping foreigner
漂白粉	piǎo bái fěn	bleaching powder
大陆漂移	dà lù piāo yí	continental drift
风雨漂摇	fēng yǔ piāo yáo	variant of 風雨飄搖\|风雨飘摇[feng1 yu3 piao1 yao2]
漂白	piǎo bái	to bleach; to whiten
长漂	cháng piāo	rafting on the Yangtze River (abbr. for 長江漂流\|长江漂流[Chang2 Jiang1 piao1 liu2])
黄漂	huáng piāo	rafting on the Yellow River (abbr. for 黃河漂流\|黄河漂流[Huang2 He2 piao1 liu2])
漂流	piāo liú	to float on the current; to drift along or about; rafting
鱼漂	yú piāo	fishing float
北漂	běi piāo	to migrate to Beijing or Taipei in search of better job opportunities; migrant worker livi…
灰尾漂鹬	huī wěi piāo yù	(bird species of China) grey-tailed tattler (Tringa brevipes)
漂亮话	piào liang huà	fine-sounding but empty words
爱漂亮	ài piào liang	to like looking attractive (usually of girls); aestheticism
漂走	piāo zǒu	to float away; to drift; to be swept off
漂游	piāo yóu	drift

Characters sharing the sound component 票 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
票 sound part	piào	bank note; ticket; vote; a slip of paper
标	biāo	mark, sign, symbol; bid, prize
飘	piāo	to drift, to float, to flutter
瓢	piáo	a ladle made from a dried gourd
膘	biāo	sfat; rump
镖	biāo	spear, harpoon, dart; to escort
嫖	piáo	to patronize a prostitute; to frequent
嘌	piào	fast, speedy
缥	piǎo	dim, misty, indistinct; a silk veil
剽	piāo	to rob, to plunder, to slice off; nimble, quick
螵	piāo	chrysalis
鳔	biào	swim bladder
摽	biāo	to sign, to signal; to throw
瘭	biāo	whitlow
瞟	piǎo	to squint, to glare, to look askance
骠	piào	charger, steed; swift, valiant