水泳

• Reading: すいえい
• Romaji: suiei
• Kanji breakdown: 水 (sui/mizu) — water; 泳 (ei/oyo) — swim
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.i.eː/

Meaning

Swimming. The activity or sport of moving through water using the body.

A noun that functions as a suru-verb (水泳する = to swim). More formal than 泳ぐ (oyogu), which is the everyday verb for swimming. 水泳 is typically used when referring to swimming as a sport, exercise, or school subject. Common in phrases like 水泳大会 (swimming competition) and 水泳教室 (swimming class).

Examples

1. 毎週土曜日に水泳を習っています。 I take swimming lessons every Saturday.
2. 学校の水泳の授業が来週から始まります。 Swimming class at school starts next week.
3. 水泳は体にいい運動だと思います。 I think swimming is a great exercise for your body.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, school, exercise

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 水 (mizu, water) and 泳 (ei, swim). Together they literally mean water-swimming, specifying the formal activity of swimming.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal