游 yóu
“to swim; variant of 游”
verb, verb / noun2021 list level 3
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
游 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 477: 游 yóu — Level 2; official annotation 2 (动). PDF page 91
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 游
游 (yóu) is a verb meaning “to swim” for people, fish, etc., and “to tour/roam” in expressions like 游西湖 (the fuller verb is 游览). It is also a surname (Yóu), where it functions as a name rather than a verb. For everyday “travel”, use 旅游 rather than 游 alone.
例句Example sentences
- 鱼在水里游。yú zài shuǐ lǐ yóu.Fish swim in the water.
- 他游了半个小时。tā yóu le bàn gè xiǎo shí.He swam for half an hour.
- 我们昨天游了西湖。wǒ men zuó tiān yóu le xī hú.We toured West Lake yesterday.
易混词Easily confused
游vs旅游
Use 旅游 for the everyday verb “to travel”; 游 alone usually means “to swim” or appears in set tour expressions like 游西湖, not generally as “travel to a place”.
义项All meanings
- Yóu: surname You
- yóu: to swim; variant of 游
- yóu: to walk; to tour; to roam; to travel