Meaning and Usage
The verb 泳ぐ (およぐ) means "to swim" and is used to describe the action of moving through water by using the limbs. It is a common verb taught at the N5 level and appears frequently in everyday conversation.
Common Contexts
泳ぐ is often used with locations like 海 (sea), 川 (river), and プール (pool) to specify where the swimming takes place. It can describe both recreational swimming and exercise.
Collocations and Patterns
- 泳ぐ + で + place: Indicates the location where swimming happens (e.g., 海で泳ぐ - swim in the sea).
- 泳いでいます: Present continuous form, used to describe someone currently swimming.
- 泳ぐのが好き: Expresses liking the activity of swimming.
Register and Politeness
泳ぐ is a neutral verb and can be used in casual and polite speech. For polite contexts, use 泳ぎます.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 泳ぐ with verbs related to water activities like 浮く (to float) or 飛び込む (to dive). Remember 泳ぐ specifically means to swim, actively moving through water.