Readings: エイ (Onyomi), およ-ぐ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: swim
Phono-semantic compound (形声字): 氵 (water radical) indicates the meaning, and 永 (eternal, long) acts as the phonetic component, suggesting the continuous, flowing motion of swimming.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 泳 (swim) is written with 8 strokes. It begins with the three-stroke water radical (氵) on the left. The right side, derived from 永, starts with a dot, followed by a horizontal line, a vertical line, and then two diagonal strokes for the “fins” or “tails.”
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氵 (さんずい) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- エイ (Ei)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- およぐ (oyogu)
Common Words Using 泳
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 水泳 | すいえい | swimming (as a sport/activity) |
| 競泳 | きょうえい | competitive swimming |
| 遠泳 | えんえい | long-distance swimming |
| 遊泳 | ゆうえい | swimming (for pleasure), bathing |
| 背泳 | せいえい | backstroke (as a style) |
| 平泳 | ひらえい | breaststroke (as a style) |
| 潜泳 | せんえい | underwater swimming |
| 水泳帽 | すいえいぼう | swimming cap |
| 水泳場 | すいえいじょう | swimming pool (facility) |
| 自由形 | じゆうがた | freestyle (swimming) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 泳ぐ | およぐ | to swim |
| 泳ぎ | およぎ | swimming (noun) |
| 平泳ぎ | ひらおよぎ | breaststroke |
| 背泳ぎ | せおよぎ | backstroke |
| 立ち泳ぎ | たちおよぎ | treading water |
| 泳ぎ方 | およぎかた | how to swim |
| 泳ぎ出す | およぎだす | to start swimming out |
| 泳ぎ着く | およぎつく | to swim to, to reach by swimming |
| 泳ぎ回る | およぎまわる | to swim around |
| 泳がせる | およがせる | to let (someone/something) swim |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私は毎日プールで泳ぎます。
Kana: わたしはまいにちプールでおよぎます。
Romaji: Watashi wa mainichi pūru de oyogimasu.
English: I swim in the pool every day.
Japanese: 魚は水の中を自由に泳ぐ。
Kana: さかなはみずのなかをじゆうにおよぐ。
Romaji: Sakana wa mizu no naka o jiyū ni oyogu.
English: Fish swim freely in the water.
Japanese: 彼は速く泳ぐことができる。
Kana: かれははやくおよぐことができる。
Romaji: Kare wa hayaku oyogu koto ga dekiru.
English: He can swim fast.
Japanese: 子供たちは川で泳いでいる。
Kana: こどもたちはかわでおよいでいる。
Romaji: Kodomo-tachi wa kawa de oyoide iru.
English: The children are swimming in the river.
Japanese: 夏には海で泳ぎたい。
Kana: なつにはうみでおよぎたい。
Romaji: Natsu ni wa umi de oyogitai.
English: I want to swim in the sea in summer.
Japanese: 水泳は全身運動です。
Kana: すいえいはぜんしんうんどうです。
Romaji: Suiei wa zenshin undō desu.
English: Swimming is a full-body exercise.
Japanese: 彼女は競泳選手です。
Kana: かのじょはきょうえいせんしゅです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa kyōei senshu desu.
English: She is a competitive swimmer.
Japanese: 遠泳に挑戦しました。
Kana: えんえいにちょうせんしました。
Romaji: En’ei ni chōsen shimashita.
English: I challenged myself to long-distance swimming.
Japanese: プールで遊泳禁止のサインを見た。
Kana: プールでゆうえいきんしのサインをみた。
Romaji: Pūru de yūei kinshi no sain o mita.
English: I saw a “no swimming” sign at the pool.
Japanese: 水泳教室に通っています。
Kana: すいえいきょうしつにかよっています。
Romaji: Suiei kyōshitsu ni kayotte imasu.
English: I am attending a swimming class.
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