浮かべる・浮べる・泛かべる・泛べる|うかべるukaberu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
浮かべるThis is the most common spelling of 浮かべる and the recommended default for beginners; use it when writing this word.
浮べる浮べる is less common than 浮かべる. It is an alternative written form, but beginners should normally choose 浮かべる instead.
泛かべる泛かべる is less common than 浮べる and 浮かべる. It is another written variant; use 浮かべる instead when choosing a form to write.
泛べる泛べる is the least common of these forms and has irregular okurigana. Treat it as an alternative spelling and choose 浮かべる when writing.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto float; to set afloat; to launch彼は小さな船を水に浮かべている。↗He is sailing a little boat on the water.
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto show on one's face (smile, sadness, etc.)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto recall; to call to mind; to imagine; to think of
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 浮かべる（うかべる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 浮かべます（うかべます） |
| Negative (nai) | 浮かべない（うかべない） |
| polite (masen) | 浮かべません（うかべません） |
| classical zu / nu | 浮かべず・浮かべぬ（うかべず・うかべぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 浮かべた（うかべた） |
| polite (mashita) | 浮かべました（うかべました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 浮かべなかった（うかべなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 浮かべませんでした（うかべませんでした） |
| Te form | 浮かべて（うかべて） |
| Potential | 浮かべられる（うかべられる） |
| Passive | 浮かべられる（うかべられる） |
| Causative | 浮かべさせる（うかべさせる） |
| Causative passive | 浮かべさせられる（うかべさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 浮かべれば（うかべれば） |
| tara | 浮かべたら（うかべたら） |
| Volitional | 浮かべよう（うかべよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 浮かべましょう（うかべましょう） |
| Imperative | 浮かべろ（うかべろ） |
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 versus 船を浮かべる.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym浮かせるうかせるNeutralMaking something float up, or saving money; 「浮かべる」 also covers showing an expression on one's face and recalling things to mind.
- Synonym漂わすただよわすNeutralLetting something drift as it will, or letting a scent drift through the air; 「浮かべる」 focuses on floating on the water's surface.
- Related浮遊ふゆうWrittenA written noun for floating or drifting in air or water, often in scientific contexts; 「浮かべる」 is the verb for making something float.
- Related浮揚ふようWrittenA written noun for floating up or buoying something up, such as a stagnant economy; 「浮かべる」 is the action itself.
- Related思いつくおもいつくNeutralSuddenly hitting upon an idea; 「浮かべる」 is for images or scenes surfacing in the mind.
- Related考えつくかんがえつくNeutralWorking out an idea or plan; 「浮かべる」 is for something appearing in the mind.
- Related思い及ぶおもいおよぶWrittenA written word for thinking of something up to a certain point, often in the negative; 「浮かべる」 is for picturing something in the mind.
- Antonym沈めるしずめるNeutralMaking something sink; the opposite of 「浮かべる」 in its sense of making something float.
Use 「浮かべる」 to float something on water, show an expression like 「笑みを浮かべる」, or bring an image to mind. For suddenly thinking of an idea, say 「思いつく」; for making something float up or saving money, 「浮かせる」; for sinking something, 「沈める」.
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
