floating weed; duckweed
General term for small aquatic plants that float on the water surface, often used metaphorically for a rootless or drifting life.
Duckweed is spreading across the surface of the pond.
greater duckweed; Spirodela polyrhiza
Specifically refers to the species Spirodela polyrhiza; usually written in kana in biological contexts.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
precarious; unstable; drifting
Metaphorical use describing a life or situation that is rootless, unsettled, or easily swayed, like a floating weed.
Greater duckweed is a small plant that floats on the water surface.
He leads a drifting, rootless life.
precarious trade; unstable occupation; itinerant trade
Standard kanji spelling for the plant and the metaphorical sense.
Variant kanji spelling; less common than 浮き草.
Rare single-kanji form; mostly encountered in literary or classical contexts.
Katakana spelling is common for the plant name, especially in biological contexts.
Rarely used kanji form; not recommended for learners.
Compound of 浮き (uki, 'floating') + 草 (kusa, 'grass, plant'). The metaphorical sense derives from the image of a plant drifting without roots.