泳
swim
Readings
On'yomi
- エイ
Kun'yomi
- およ.ぐ
Meaning
泳 centers on moving through water: swimming. The single given meaning is straightforward and concrete.
Most common words using 泳
20 of 63- 泳ぐおよぐN5
to swim
- 水泳すいえいN4
swimming
- 競泳きょうえい
competitive swimming; swimming race
- 遊泳ゆうえい
swimming; bathing
- 平泳ぎひらおよぎ
breaststroke (swimming)
- 背泳ぎせおよぎ
backstroke (swimming)
- 泳ぎ方およぎかたN4
way of swimming
- 泳法えいほう
swimming style
- 遠泳えんえい
long-distance swimming
- 泳動えいどう
migration; movement; phoresis
- 泳がせるおよがせる
to let (someone) swim; to make (someone) swim; to release (fish) into the water; to set (fish) swimming
- 泳ぎおよぎN3
swimming
- 泳者えいしゃ
a swimmer
- ひと泳ぎひとおよぎ
a swim
- ろ紙電気泳動ろしでんきえいどう
paper electrophoresis
- キャピラリー電気泳動キャピラリーでんきえいどう
capillary electrophoresis
- 人波を泳ぐひとなみをおよぐ
to wade through a crowd
- 側泳そばえい
side stroke
- 力泳りきえい
powerful swimming
- 国際水泳連盟こくさいすいえいれんめい
International Swimming Federation; FINA
Study
Etymology
泳 combines 氵 (water) with 永, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of long or flowing movement, together expressing swimming.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 on the left and 永 (eternal) on the right: imagine swimming in an eternal, endless pool of water.
Reading mnemonic
For エイ, picture an 'A'-shaped swimmer gliding through the water: 'A' -> エイ, and the swimmer's body forms the letter A as they swim.