Japanese word of the day: 泳ぐ(Oyogu)

What does 泳ぐ(Oyogu) mean?

Word (type) — Definition

Kanji details for 泳

Character:
Radical:

Example sentences with 泳ぐ(Oyogu)

• 私は毎朝プールで泳ぎます。
  (Watashi wa mai asa pūru de oyogimasu.)
  🏊‍♂️ I swim in the pool every morning.

• 彼は泳ぐのがとても上手です。
  (Kare wa oyogu no ga totemo jōzu desu.)
  👍 He is very good at swimming.

• 夏休みに海で泳ぎたいです。
  (Natsuyasumi ni umi de oyogitai desu.)
  🌊 I want to swim in the sea during summer vacation.

Confused about how to conjugate this word?
Our conjugation tables can help.

泳ぐ (Oyogu) in context

泳ぐ is a godan verb ending with ぐ, which means it conjugates with some unique patterns, like changing 泳ぐ to 泳いで (oyoide) in the te-form. It’s a basic and essential verb often taught early in Japanese learning because swimming is a common activity and metaphor.

Beyond the literal meaning, 泳ぐ can be used metaphorically to describe navigating through difficult situations or crowds, as in “人ごみを泳ぐ” (hitogomi o oyogu) — “to swim through a crowd.”

The kanji 泳 combines the water radical 氵 with a phonetic component 永 (meaning “eternity” or “long time”), symbolizing moving through water continuously. Mastering 泳ぐ will help you talk about swimming, water activities, and even figurative expressions about moving through challenges.