浮かぶ・泛ぶ|うかぶukabu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
浮かぶ浮かぶ is the most common written form. For beginners, it is the recommended choice and the form to use when writing this word.
泛ぶ泛ぶ is a rarely used mixed kanji-kana variant, so learners will seldom encounter it and should generally choose 浮かぶ instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto float; to be suspended
- godan verb, intransitive verbto rise to the surface; to appear; to emerge; to show up; to loom (up)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto come to mind; to have inspiration
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 浮かぶ（うかぶ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 浮かびます（うかびます） |
| Negative (nai) | 浮かばない（うかばない） |
| polite (masen) | 浮かびません（うかびません） |
| classical zu / nu | 浮かばず・浮かばぬ（うかばず・うかばぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 浮かんだ（うかんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 浮かびました（うかびました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 浮かばなかった（うかばなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 浮かびませんでした（うかびませんでした） |
| Te form | 浮かんで（うかんで） |
| Potential | 浮かべる（うかべる） |
| Passive | 浮かばれる（うかばれる） |
| Causative | 浮かばせる（うかばせる） |
| Causative passive | 浮かばせられる・浮かばされる（うかばせられる・うかばされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 浮かべば（うかべば） |
| tara | 浮かんだら（うかんだら） |
| Volitional | 浮かぼう（うかぼう） |
| polite (mashou) | 浮かびましょう（うかびましょう） |
| Imperative | 浮かべ（うかべ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
船が浮かぶ
船を浮かべる
浮かぶ focuses on the event or resulting state, while 浮かべる foregrounds the agent acting on something: 船が浮かぶ, but 船を浮かべる.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym浮遊ふゆうWrittenA noun for drifting or hovering in water or air, as in 「浮遊物」; a written, formal word rather than the everyday verb 浮かぶ.
- Synonym浮くうくNeutralCovers floating on water or in air, plus senses 浮かぶ lacks — having spare money and feeling cheerful — but is not used for things coming to mind.
- Synonym浮動ふどうWrittenA written noun for fluctuating or drifting without settling, mostly in abstract uses like 「浮動票」.
- Related浮き上がるうきあがるNeutralFocuses on rising up from below, or on standing out awkwardly after being cut off from a group, as in 「クラスで浮き上がる」.
- Related浮揚ふようWrittenA written noun for lifting or floating up, also used for buoying up the economy as in 「景気浮揚」.
- Related浮かび上がるうかびあがるNeutralEmphasizes emerging to the surface or into view; typical for facts or suspicions coming to light, as in 「疑惑が浮かび上がる」.
- Related浮上ふじょうNeutralA noun for surfacing or rising up, often used for moving up in rankings as in 「首位に浮上」.
- Related浮き出るうきでるNeutralUsed for things standing out on a surface, like 「汗が浮き出る」 or 「血管が浮き出る」; narrower than 浮かぶ.
- Related浮かび出るうかびでるWrittenMeans to emerge or come into view; a written word that is not often used, rather than a casual swap for 浮かぶ.
- Related思い浮かぶおもいうかぶNeutralLimited to thoughts and faces coming to mind — a purely mental sense. 浮かぶ has this sense too, but also covers physical floating.
- Related浮き出すうきだすNeutralMeans to rise to the surface or stand out, as in 「文字が浮き出す」 for lettering or patterns emerging; a narrower verb than 浮かぶ.
- Antonym沈むしずむNeutralThe direct antonym: to sink in water, to set like the sun, or to feel down — the opposite of floating or rising.
- Antonym没するぼっするWrittenA written word for sinking or fading from sight, also for passing away; the opposite of 浮かぶ's sense of emerging.
Use 「浮かぶ」 for floating on water and for things coming to mind. 「浮く」 also covers floating, but not thoughts. For the truth or suspicions coming to light, use 「浮かび上がる」; for rising in rankings, 「浮上」; for ideas or faces popping into your head, 「思い浮かぶ」. To sink is 「沈む」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
