Overview
"游泳" (yóu yǒng) means "to swim" or "swimming" and refers to the activity of moving through water by using the limbs. It is a common verb and noun in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to sports, leisure, and physical exercise.
Usage Notes
The word can be used both as a verb (to swim) and as a noun (swimming). For example, "去游泳" means "to go swimming." It often appears in phrases describing ability (会游泳 - can swim), preference (喜欢游泳 - like swimming), or events (游泳比赛 - swimming competition).
Common Collocations
- 去游泳 (go swimming): used when talking about going to swim.
- 会游泳 (can swim): expressing ability.
- 游泳比赛 (swimming competition): formal or sports context.
- 喜欢游泳 (like swimming): expressing preference.
Register and Tone
"游泳" is neutral in tone and appropriate for both casual and formal contexts. It is a standard term without slang or colloquial variants.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "游泳" with "游玩" (yóuwán), which means "to play" or "to have fun" but not specifically swimming. The character "游" alone can mean "to roam" or "to wander," but combined with "泳," it specifically refers to swimming.