游泳 (yóuyǒng), meaning “to swim,” combines the concept of leisurely movement with the specific action of moving through water.

Here’s a breakdown of the characters:

• 游 (yóu): This character means “to swim,” “to wander,” or “to travel.” It originally depicted water (氵- shuǐ) flowing around a flag (方 – fāng), symbolizing movement or travel, possibly in a leisurely or exploratory manner.

• 泳 (yǒng): This character also means “to swim” or “swimming.” It depicts water (氵- shuǐ) and a person with outstretched arms (永 – yǒng), representing the specific action of moving through water.

Combining these elements, 游泳 literally means “to swim and swim” or “to move through water in a leisurely and purposeful way.” This emphasizes both the act of swimming and the enjoyment or exploration associated with it.

The term 游泳 is used in various contexts related to swimming and water activities:

• 游泳池 (yóuyǒngchí): Swimming pool
• 去游泳 (qù yóuyǒng): To go swimming
• 游泳健将 (yóuyǒng jiànjiàng): A strong swimmer

By understanding the original meaning of 游泳, we can appreciate its connection to both leisurely movement and the specific action of swimming. It reflects the human fascination with water and the enjoyment of moving through this element.