游
float, swim
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- ユウ
- リュウ
Kun'yomi
- あそ.び
- あそ.ぶ
- およ.ぐ
Meaning
游 centers on moving through or on water: floating or swimming. The two meanings are closely related as ways of being supported by water.
Most common words using 游
- 游蛇ゆうだ
water snake
Study
Etymology
游 combines 氵 (water) with 斿, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of drifting or moving. The character is associated with floating or swimming in water.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 on the left and 斿 on the right, which looks like a child 子 with a flag 方, as if a child is floating a flag on the water. Picture a child swimming while holding a small flag that floats on the surface.
Reading mnemonic
For ユウ, imagine you floating in water: you -> ユウ, and you are swimming peacefully.