漂ただよう

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

drift; float

Used intransitively for something floating or being carried along on water, in the air, or in another medium without fixed direction.

• 流りゅう木ぼくが海かい面めんに漂ただよっていた。

  Driftwood was floating on the surface of the sea.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

waft; hang in the air

Common with smells, smoke, mist, and similar things that spread through the air and remain perceptible.

• 廊ろう下かにコーヒーの香かおりが漂ただよっていた。

  The smell of coffee was wafting through the hallway.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

be in the air; pervade

Figurative use for a mood, feeling, tension, elegance, or other atmosphere that seems to fill a place or situation.

• 会かい場じょうには緊きん張ちょうした空くう気きが漂ただよっていた。

  A tense atmosphere hung over the venue.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

wander; drift around aimlessly

Figurative extension for a person moving about without a clear destination or settled place; often has a slightly literary or descriptive feel compared with さまよう.

• 彼かれはあてもなく街まちを漂ただよっていた。

  He was wandering aimlessly through the city.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

be unsteady; falter or flinch; live precariously

Archaic uses. These include being physically or socially unstable, faltering or flinching, and living in unreliable circumstances; modern Japanese would normally use other expressions such as 不安定である, ひるむ, or 不安な生活を送る.

• 古こ語ごでは、「漂ただよう」が足あし元もとや境きょう遇ぐうの不ふ安あん定ていさを表あらわすことがある。

  In older language, 漂う can express instability in one's footing or circumstances.

• 古ふるい用よう法ほうの「漂ただよう」には、ひるむ、たじろぐという意い味みもある。

  In an older use, 漂う can also mean to flinch or falter.