游
swim; travel
At a glance · 游
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
小篆从水，斿声，本义为在水中浮行（游泳），引申为游逛。形声清晰。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
本义为浮水而行，后泛指游历、游玩。
Structure
形声字，从水（意符，浮游水中），斿（yóu）为声符。
At a glance
Pinyinyóu
Radical氵
Strokes12
UnicodeU+6E38
Character type形声
Theme动作
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
swim; travel
To swim; also to travel or roam.
Français
nager; voyager
Nager ; aussi voyager ou errer.
Español
nadar; viajar
Nadar; también viajar o deambular.
العربية
يسبح؛ يسافر
يسبح؛ ويُستعار للسفر أو التجوال.
Русский
плавать; путешествовать
Плавать; также путешествовать.
Common words
- 游泳yóu yǒngswim
- 旅游lǚ yóutravel