Chinese word

游泳

Pronunciation

Pinyinyóu yǒng

Meaning

  • verbswim

Example

你会游泳吗？nǐ huì yóu yǒng ma

Can you swim?

Illustration for 游泳 (swim)

More examples

我们周末去游泳。wǒ men zhōu mò qù yóu yǒng

We go swimming on weekends.

Core concept

A body travels through water by coordinated movement of its limbs and body.

Common phrases

  • 会游泳huì yóu yǒng

    can swim

  • 不会游泳bú huì yóu yǒng

    cannot swim

  • 去游泳qù yóu yǒng

    go swimming

Similar words

运动yùn dòng: Taking part in physical activity to improve fitness or maintain health.
锻炼duàn liàn: Strengthening the body or an ability through training and practice.
跑步pǎo bù: Running at a steady pace over a distance for exercise.

Definition in Chinese

通过划动手脚或身体在水中前进的动作或能力。tōng guò huà dòng shóu jiǎo huò shēn tǐ zài shuǐ zhōng qián jìn de dòng zuò huò néng lì

Word origin

游泳 (yóuyǒng, "swim") combines 游 (yóu, "move about") with 泳 (yǒng, "swim in water"), narrowing general movement to travel through water.

Usage tips

  • For an outing, Chinese places 游泳 (yóuyǒng, "swim") after 去 (qù, "go"), while English often says go swimming.

Related words

Word lists with this word