HSK · Level 16
135 words
Chinese word
游
Pronunciation
Pinyinyóu
Meaning
- verbswim
Example
他会游泳吗？tā huì yóu yǒng ma
Can he swim?
More examples
她在海里游得很快。tā zài hái lǐ yóu de hěn kuài
She swims very fast in the sea.
Core concept
Free movement with a sense of exploration or enjoyment, most clearly seen in swimming and extended to travel and play.
Common phrases
游泳yóu yǒng
swim
Similar words
游泳yóu yǒng: To swim as an activity by moving the body through water.
游玩yóu wán: To go out for fun, play, or enjoyable sightseeing.
游览yóu lǎn: To visit and look around famous places or scenic areas.
旅行lǚ xíng: To travel to another place for sightseeing or a holiday, staying overnight.
Definition in Chinese
主要指在水中用手脚划动身体以向前移动，即“游泳”，并可泛指自由地游走或旅行、游玩。zhǔ yào zhǐ zài shuǐ zhōng yòng shóu jiǎo huà dòng shēn tǐ yǐ xiàng qián yí dòng jí yóu yǒng bìng kě fàn zhǐ zì yóu dì yóu zǒu huò lǚ xíng yóu wán
Word origin
The character 游 (yóu, "to swim; to wander") originally centered on moving through water, and that concrete sense naturally extended to traveling, wandering, and spending time for pleasure.
Usage tips
- English speakers may expect one verb to name one activity, but Chinese uses this verb flexibly in context, so nearby words can narrow it from general roaming to movement in water.