float

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 浮 has 10 strokes and describes floating on water or an image coming to mind.
• Basic usage: 浮かぶ is read うかぶ, and 浮かべる is read うかべる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• What floats and making it float
  • 花びらが浮かんでいる describes petals floating.
  • 木の船を浮かべた describes floating a wooden boat, with を marking what is set afloat.
• Coming to mind and picturing
  • 祖母の台所が浮かぶ means one's grandmother's kitchen comes to mind.
  • 昔の友人の顔を心に浮かべる means picturing an old friend's face in one's mind.