The Kanji: 漂 (Hyō / Tadayou)
The kanji 漂 means "to drift," "to float," or "to wander." It combines 氵 (water) with 票 (slip of paper), originally depicting something floating on water like a paper boat. This character represents aimless movement and subtle presence.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 漂う (tadayou) - To drift
舟が海に漂っている。
"A boat drifts on the sea."
2. 漂白 (hyōhaku) - Bleaching
布を漂白する。
"Bleach the fabric."
3. 漂流 (hyōryū) - Adrift
遭難船が漂流している。
"A shipwreck is drifting."
4. 漂着 (hyōchaku) - Wash ashore
流木が海岸に漂着した。
"Driftwood washed ashore."
In summary, 漂 describes floating movement - from physical drifting (漂う, 漂流) and chemical bleaching (漂白) to objects washing ashore (漂着). It conveys both literal and metaphorical wandering in Japanese.