How to say "float" in Japanese

• 浮くうくJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: the subject itself floats, on water or in the air. The plain verb for simply saying that something floats, as with a leaf or a boat on the water.
  それから彼女かのじょはあおむけに浮ういていた。↗

  Then she was floating on her back.
• 浮かぶうかぶJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbAlso intransitive: something floats or hangs suspended in water or air. It largely overlaps with 浮く, and suits scenes like the moon floating on the water or an object suspended in midair.
  １枚まいの落ち葉おちばが水面すいめんに浮うかんでいた。↗

  A fallen leaf floated on the surface of the water.
• 浮かべるうかべるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbTransitive: to float something — set it afloat or launch it. Use it when an agent puts an object on the water, as in setting a small boat afloat.
  彼かれは小ちいさな船ふねを水みずに浮うかべている。↗

  He is sailing a little boat on the water.
• 浮き上がるうきあがるCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: to rise to the surface and float up from below. It stresses the upward movement — something coming up until it floats on top — rather than simply staying afloat.
• 浮かすうかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbTransitive: to make something float. The transitive counterpart of 浮く, and in many contexts interchangeable with 浮かべる for setting something afloat.

Use the intransitive 「浮く」 or 「浮かぶ」 when something floats by itself, 「浮き上がる」 when it rises to the surface, and the transitive 「浮かべる」 or 「浮かす」 when you make or set something afloat.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 浮くうくto float
• 浮かぶうかぶto float
• 浮かべるうかべるto float
• 浮き上がるうきあがるto float
• 浮かすうかすto float
• フロートfloat
• 漂うただようto drift
• 浮かせるうかせるto float
• ビート板ビートばんkickboard
• 流すながすto float (e.g. logs down a river)
• 流れるながれるto drift
• 浮きうきlifebuoy