• 泳およぐ — to swim
• 水泳すいえい — swimming
• 遠泳えんえい — long-distance swim
• 競泳きょうえい — competitive swimming
• 背泳はいえい — backstroke
• 遊泳ゆうえい — recreational swimming

The radical 氵(さんずい) indicates water. Combined with 永 (えい), meaning “long flow,” this character evokes the idea of swimming along a current. That’s why 泳 means “to swim.”

川かわで 泳およぐのが好すきです。
I like swimming in the river.

夏休なつやすみに海うみで泳およぎました。
I swam in the ocean during summer break.

🎧 Listen to エイ and およぐ