Meaning
The kanji 泳 means to swim. It shows up in pool signs, school PE schedules, and Olympic broadcasts alike — a practical character with a clear, single meaning.
泳 is a compound ideograph built from two parts: 氵 (the three-dot water radical, a shorthand for 水) on the left, and 永 (eternal, long) on the right. The 氵 signals water; 永 contributes the on'yomi reading ei. The pairing makes intuitive sense — swimming is a sustained, continuous movement through water, not a single brief action. That quality of endurance is baked right into the character's structure.
Eight strokes, Grade 3 in Japanese schools. The JLPT places it at N2 — mainly because of its formal compounds — but 泳ぐ (to swim) is vocabulary most beginners absorb naturally. It belongs to the 氵 radical group alongside 海 (ocean), 池 (pond), and 湖 (lake).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is エイ (ei), used in compound words. It doesn't appear in isolation. Most encounters with エイ happen in academic, sports, or formal writing.
- 水泳 (suiei) — swimming (sport or activity). The most common compound, appearing everywhere from school PE to Olympic coverage.
- 競泳 (kyōei) — competitive swimming. The standard term for organized races and events like the Olympics.
- 遠泳 (en'ei) — long-distance swimming, often in open water such as the sea or a river.
- 泳法 (eihō) — swimming stroke or style. A technical term covering specific techniques like freestyle or breaststroke.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is およ.ぐ (oyo.gu). The dot marks the okurigana — ぐ is written in hiragana after the kanji. 泳ぐ is a godan verb meaning "to swim," and it's what you'll use in everyday conversation.
- 泳ぐ (oyogu) — to swim.
- 平泳ぎ (hiraoyogi) — breaststroke. Literally "flat swimming," named for its wide, flat arm and leg movements.
- 背泳ぎ (seoyogi) — backstroke. Literally "back swimming."
- 犬泳ぎ (inuoyogi) — dog paddle. A casual term for the simple paddling motion a dog uses.
Common Words & Compounds
Here are the most useful 泳 compounds, grouped by context.
Sports & Competition
- 水泳 (suiei) — swimming (sport/activity)
- 競泳 (kyōei) — competitive swimming
- 泳者 (eisha) — swimmer (formal/written)
- 遠泳 (en'ei) — long-distance swimming
- 力泳 (riki'ei) — swimming with full effort
Swimming Strokes & Styles
- 平泳ぎ (hiraoyogi) — breaststroke
- 背泳ぎ (seoyogi) — backstroke
- 犬泳ぎ (inuoyogi) — dog paddle
- 泳法 (eihō) — swimming technique/stroke
Everyday Usage
- 泳ぐ (oyogu) — to swim
- 泳ぎ (oyogi) — swimming (noun form)
- 泳ぎ回る (oyogimawaru) — to swim around
- 泳ぎ着く (oyogitsuku) — to reach somewhere by swimming
Example Sentences
彼女は毎日プールで泳ぎます。
Kanojo wa mainichi pūru de oyogimasu.
She swims in the pool every day.
水泳は体にいい運動です。
Suiei wa karada ni ii undō desu.
Swimming is good exercise for the body.
子供のころ、海でよく泳いだ。
Kodomo no koro, umi de yoku oyoida.
When I was a child, I often swam in the sea.
競泳の選手は毎朝トレーニングをします。
Kyōei no senshu wa maiasa torēningu wo shimasu.
Competitive swimmers train every morning.
平泳ぎは四つの泳法の中で一番遅いです。
Hiraoyogi wa yottsu no eihō no naka de ichiban osoi desu.
Breaststroke is the slowest of the four swimming strokes.
彼は川を泳いで渡った。
Kare wa kawa wo oyoide watatta.
He crossed the river by swimming.
夏になると、多くの人が海で泳ぎを楽しみます。
Natsu ni naru to, ōku no hito ga umi de oyogi wo tanoshimimasu.
When summer arrives, many people enjoy swimming in the sea.
遠泳に挑戦するためには、体力が必要です。
En'ei ni chōsen suru tame ni wa, tairyoku ga hitsuyō desu.
You need stamina to tackle long-distance swimming.
まだ泳げないので、水泳クラスに通っています。
Mada oyogenai node, suiei kurasu ni kayotte imasu.
Since I can't swim yet, I've been taking swimming classes.
Memory Tip
Split 泳 into its two parts. Left: 氵, three water droplets. Right: 永, meaning "forever." Picture someone swimming stroke after endless stroke — forever through water. That's the image to hold.
For the on'yomi エイ: エイ also means stingray in Japanese. A stingray glides through the ocean in long, effortless arcs. Same reading, same kind of motion — extended, fluid, continuous.