Translation and Meaning of: 浮かぶ - ukabu

If you've ever wondered how the Japanese express the idea of something that floats on water or even a thought that comes to mind, the word 浮かぶ (うかぶ - ukabu) is the answer. In this article, we will explore everything from its etymology to its everyday use, including the pictogram of the kanji and interesting facts that make this expression unique. Here at Suki Nihongo, you can also find practical examples to include in your Anki and boost your Japanese studies.

In addition to its literal meaning, ukabu carries poetic and even philosophical nuances—after all, what "floats" can be both a boat on the river and a forgotten memory. If you've ever had questions about how to use this word in different contexts or want to understand why it appears so often in songs and poems, keep reading. We will unveil even the details that traditional books don't tell.

The Kanji 浮 and the Origin of 浮かぶ

The heart of 浮かぶ is in the kanji 浮, which is composed of two elements: 氵 (three drops of water, the radical for liquids) and 孚 (which suggests "trust" or "floating"). Together, they create the image of something that rests on the surface, without sinking. It's no coincidence that this character appears in words like 浮力 (ふりょく - buoyancy) and even in the verb 浮く (うく - to float), a close sibling of ukabu.

Interestingly, the version with the suffix ~ぶ (ぶbu) adds a softer and intransitive tone—as if the action happens naturally, without effort. Compare: while 浮く can describe a buoy in the sea, 浮かぶ is that moment when an idea "sprouts" in your head during a bath. This subtlety is gold for those who want to sound like a native.

Everyday Lies: From Concrete to Abstract

In practice, 浮かぶ is a versatile term. It can describe both physical objects (雲が空に浮かぶくもがそらにうかぶ - "clouds floating in the sky") and abstract concepts (名案が浮かんだめいあんがうかんだ - "a great idea came to mind"). A valuable tip: in conversations, Japanese people often use the form 浮かんでくる (ukande kuru) to emphasize something that "emerges gradually," like a distant memory.

Want a real example? Imagine being in Kyoto and seeing lanterns 浮かぶ on the river during the Obon festival. Now, think about how this same word appears in song lyrics—like in "Shiawase no Shizuku" (幸せの雫), by the band Kobukuro: 君の笑顔が浮かぶきみのえがおがうかぶ ("your smile comes to mind"). This duality between the tangible and the emotional is what makes ukabu so fascinating.

Memorization and Cultural Curiosities

To fix 浮かぶ, how about associating it with the movement of a balloon? Visualize the water radical (氵) as the air that supports it and the rest of the kanji as the balloon rising. Another tip: the reading うか (uka) resembles the sound of bubbles emerging on the surface—perfect for those who learn with auditory associations.

In Japanese culture, the idea of "floating" has deep connections with Shintoism. Objects that 浮かぶ in rivers, such as during Toronagashi (drifting lanterns), symbolize the journey of souls. It's no wonder that this word appears so often in haikus—after all, it captures ephemerality and lightness, two pillars of the wabi-sabi aesthetic. Want to test your knowledge? Try translating: "When I eat ramen, I always remember Tokyo." (Answer at the end of the article!)

Answer to the challenge: ラーメンを食べると、いつも東京を思い浮かぶラーメンをたべると、いつもとうきょうをおもいうかぶ.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 浮かぶ

• 浮かぶ - base form
• 浮かびます - polite form
• 浮かばない - negative form
• 浮かんでいます - Continuous form
• 浮かばせる - causative form

Synonyms and similar words

• 浮上する (fujou suru) - rise to the surface, emerge
• 浮く (uku) - float, stay afloat
• 浮かべる (ukaberu) - make float, show (in thought)
• 浮き上がる (ukiagaru) - to rise, to elevate (in relation to the surface)
• 浮き出る (uki deru) - appear, highlight (to become visible)

浮かぶ

Romaji: ukabu
Kana: うかぶ
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n2, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: to float; to rise to the surface; to come to mind

Meaning in English: to float;to rise to surface;to come to mind

Definition: Appears on the water's surface.

Example Sentences - (浮かぶ) ukabu

See below some example sentences:

空中に浮かぶ風船がきれいです。

Kuuchuu ni ukabu fuusen ga kirei desu

The balloon floating in the air is beautiful.

• 空中に - indicates that something is in the air or in space
• 浮かぶ - verb that means to float
• 風船 - substantive that means balloon
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• きれい - adjective that means beautiful or clean
• です - verb that indicates the existence or state of something, in this case, the beauty of the balloons

岸には小さな船が浮かんでいる。

Gishi ni wa chiisana fune ga ukande iru

A small ship is floating on the shore.

• 岸 - means "coast" or "margin".
• に - is a particle that indicates the location of something.
• は - is a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 小さな - means "small".
• 船 - means "boat".
• が - It is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 浮かんでいる - is a verb that means "floating".

白い雲が空に浮かんでいる。

Shiroi kumo ga sora ni ukande iru

A white cloud is floating in the sky.

• 白い - adjective that means "white"
• 雲 - noun meaning "cloud"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 空 - noun meaning "heaven"
• に - particle indicating the place where something is happening
• 浮かんでいる - verb meaning "floating" (in present continuous)

私の心にはいつも幸せが浮かびます。

Watashi no kokoro ni wa itsumo shiawase ga ukabimasu

Happiness always comes to my heart.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship between two words
• 心 (kokoro) - Japanese noun meaning "heart" or "mind"
• に (ni) - Japanese particle indicating action or direction
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• いつも (itsumo) - Japanese adverb meaning "always"
• 幸せ (shiawase) - Japanese noun meaning "happiness"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 浮かびます (ukabimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to float" or "to come to mind" in the present tense and polite