---
title: "Piaoliu Meaning: 漂流 (piāoliú) Means “to drift”"
description: "漂流 (piāoliú) means “to drift; to float”. Hear its tones, see what 漂 and 流 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/piaoliu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 漂流 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

漂流 piāoliú

## to drift; to float

## It can also mean

- rafting
- (literary) to wander; to lead a roving life

## Its characters

1. 漂 piāo to float
2. 流 liú to spread

## In a sentence

小船顺着河水漂流。 The little boat drifted along with the river.

[More about 漂流](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%BC%82%E6%B5%81)

## More words with 漂 or 流

- [潮流 cháoliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chaoliu)
- [风流 fēngliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fengliu)
- [河流 héliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/heliu)
- [交流 jiāoliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiaoliu)
- [客流 kèliú](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/keliu)
- [流畅 liúchàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liuchang)
- [流程 liúchéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liucheng)
- [流传 liúchuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liuchuan)
- [流动 liúdòng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liudong)
- [流感 liúgǎn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liugan)

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