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March 24, 2026
游(遊)yóu(You2)
The character 游 (yóu) primarily means 'to swim' or 'to travel.' It can also signify wandering or roaming, and is commonly used in contexts related to leisure activities, such as touring or sightseeing. This character evokes a sense of movement and exploration, both in water and on land.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#2419DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 游 is often associated with traditional leisure activities such as visiting scenic spots and enjoying nature. The concept of 游 has historical significance, as many poets and scholars in ancient China wrote about their travels and explorations in nature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named You (游) swimming in a beautiful lake. The character has a water radical (氵) on the left, symbolizing water, which connects to its meaning of swimming. Picture the person exploring the lake's surroundings, which helps you remember that 游 also means to roam and travel.
Meanings of 游
yóu(You2)
1to swim
2to walk
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 游
游Simplified
遊Traditional
12Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2419Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 游
Podcast: 游
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AI Study Notes for 游
Quick Contrast
游 (yóu) vs 漂 (piāo): Choose 游 for activities involving swimming or traveling, while 漂 emphasizes drifting or floating without a specific destination.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 游 with other similar verbs like 走 (zǒu, to walk) or 行 (xíng, to go/travel), which have different nuances. 游 is often used in both formal and informal settings but is especially prevalent in travel contexts. Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
游 is a useful verb that connects well with HSK vocabulary related to travel and leisure, such as 旅游 (lǚyóu, to travel) and 游览 (yóulǎn, to tour). Focus on practicing its pronunciation and using it in sentences about your travel experiences to reinforce learning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 游 when referring to walking or commuting, confusing it with 走 (zǒu). For example, saying '我游去学校' (wǒ yóu qù xuéxiào) is incorrect; it should be '我走去学校' (wǒ zǒu qù xuéxiào).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 游
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 斿 represents the sound.
1The giveawayTo swim freely 斿 through the seas 氵
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 游? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 游?
Decomposition of 游
IDS Structure⿰氵斿
游Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
斿you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 游?
How to say to swim in Chinese
“to swim” in Chinese is游yóu
The character 游 (yóu) primarily means 'to swim' or 'to travel.' It can also signify wandering or roaming, and is commonly used in contexts related to leisure activities, such as touring or sightseeing. This character evokes a sense of movement and exploration, both in water and on land.
When to use 游
A common mistake is confusing 游 with other similar verbs like 走 (zǒu, to walk) or 行 (xíng, to go/travel), which have different nuances. 游 is often used in both formal and informal settings but is especially prevalent in travel contexts. Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
游 or something close to it
游 (yóu) vs 漂 (piāo): Choose 游 for activities involving swimming or traveling, while 漂 emphasizes drifting or floating without a specific destination.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 游 when referring to walking or commuting, confusing it with 走 (zǒu). For example, saying '我游去学校' (wǒ yóu qù xuéxiào) is incorrect; it should be '我走去学校' (wǒ zǒu qù xuéxiào).
Write 游
游
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Practice writing 游 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 游
游 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
