Meaning

Primary

Swimming

Alternative

Swim

Word Type

noun, verbal noun

Explanation

When you're doing a water swim, you're really just… well, swimming.

Note that 水泳 will usually refer to swimming as a sport or organized activity. When talking about swimming as a general action, 泳ぎ and 泳ぐ are more commonly used.

Reading

すいえい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word that uses the on'yomi readings of the kanji. You've learned this reading for , but not for , so here's a mnemonic to help you:

The only way you can swim is by chasing after acorns (えい). If somebody isn't dangling an acorn on a stick right in front of your face, you'd never get the motivation to swim. Good thing you're this into acorns.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 水泳パンツ

    swimming trunks

    水泳教室

    swimming class

    水泳プール

    swimming pool

    水泳部

    swimming club

    水泳中

    in the middle of swimming

    水泳用

    for swimming

Context Sentences

水泳教室に通い始めました。

I started taking swimming lessons.

水泳はとても良い全身運動です。

Swimming is an excellent full-body workout.

水泳の授業は学校で楽しいです。

Swimming classes at school are fun.

Kanji Composition