1.
to set afloat, to float
To place something on the surface of water or another liquid so that it floats.
池に船を浮かべた。
I floated a boat on the pond.
お風呂にアヒルのおもちゃを浮かべて遊んだ。
I played with a rubber duck floating in the bath.
子どもたちはプールに色とりどりの風船を浮かべた。
The children floated colorful balloons on the pool.
2.
to show, to wear (an expression)
To let a facial expression appear on one's face. Most commonly used with smiles, tears, or other emotional expressions.
彼女は笑みを浮かべた。
She wore a smile on her face.
彼は不安そうな表情を浮かべていた。
He had an anxious expression on his face.
目に涙を浮かべながら、感謝の言葉を述べた。
With tears in her eyes, she expressed her gratitude.
USAGE:
The transitive counterpart of 浮かぶ (to float, to come to mind). Sense 2 is very common in narrative and descriptive writing. The expression 笑みを浮かべる (to wear a smile) is a standard literary collocation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 船を浮かべる: to float a boat
- 笑みを浮かべる: to wear a smile
- 涙を浮かべる: to have tears (in one's eyes)
- 表情を浮かべる: to show an expression
Related Words
Pair verb:
浮かぶ (intransitive)