<p>They are the same, you can also say</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这只狗在游泳 or 这个男人在游水</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The only difference is, 游水 is not commonly used anymore.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T18:21:56.367Z
2018-06-18T18:21:56.367Z
zyy
<p>游泳 can be both formal and informal.</p>

<p>游水 is informal. </p>

<p>for example, a sign reads "NO SWIMMING" can only be translated as "禁止游泳"。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-27T05:34:54.147Z
2018-10-27T05:34:54.147Z
John Z. Li
<p>游水 is mainly a colloquial Cantonese term  <a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1332/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1332/</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>游水</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>/jau4 seoi2 /  (jyutping)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>swim, swimming. Mand.: 游泳</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><em>游水 in Mandarin pinyin is read as “yóushuǐ“</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also logically, you can swim (游泳) in any liquid ; while 游水 specifically means swim in water, but even Cantonese ignore it, since it is very rare that someone swim in a liquid other than water</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-28T08:17:02.547Z
游水 is in two Mandarin dictionnaries: ABC and 现代汉语规范词典.
goPlayerJuggler
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-18T19:17:59.587Z
@goPlayerJuggler being in a dictionary tells you that a term exists but tells you nothing about if its common or formal or casual etc ((usually)). Actual usage will vary by area regardless of mandarin or cantonese or anything else.  I agree with others that 游泳 or even just 游 is more common than 游水 overall
zagrycha
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-18T19:45:47.407Z
2024-08-18T16:08:16.707Z
2024-08-18T16:08:16.707Z
Tang Ho
<p>游水，more like a dialect，only understand in Cantonnese.</p>
<p>游泳，more formal, can understand in most Chinese.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-19T03:31:00.077Z
2024-08-19T03:31:22.630Z
2024-08-19T03:31:22.630Z
陈志巍
<p>I've been learning with a course, and one of the lessons said: <strong>这个男人在游泳</strong>, but the same sentence with a dog was: <strong>这只狗在游水</strong>.</p>

<p>I presume that both were doing the same thing: swimming. So, can I use <strong>游泳</strong> with animals and <strong>游水</strong> with persons? What is the difference between them?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<meaning><mandarin><usage><vocabulary>
Difference between "游泳" and "游水"
# Difference between "游泳" and "游水"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-18)

I've been learning with a course, and one of the lessons said: **这个男人在游泳**, but the same sentence with a dog was: **这只狗在游水**.

I presume that both were doing the same thing: swimming. So, can I use **游泳** with animals and **游水** with persons? What is the difference between them?

Thanks!

**Tags:** meaning, mandarin, usage, vocabulary

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

They are the same, you can also say

> 这只狗在游泳 or 这个男人在游水

The only difference is, 游水 is not commonly used anymore.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-27. Score: 2

游泳 can be both formal and informal.

游水 is informal.

for example, a sign reads "NO SWIMMING" can only be translated as "禁止游泳"。


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-06-18. Score: 1

游水 is mainly a colloquial Cantonese term <http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1332/>

> 游水

> /jau4 seoi2 / (jyutping)

> swim, swimming. Mand.: 游泳

> *游水 in Mandarin pinyin is read as “yóushuǐ“*

Also logically, you can swim (游泳) in any liquid ; while 游水 specifically means swim in water, but even Cantonese ignore it, since it is very rare that someone swim in a liquid other than water

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 游水 is in two Mandarin dictionnaries: ABC and 现代汉语规范词典.  
> **username_5**: @goPlayerJuggler being in a dictionary tells you that a term exists but tells you nothing about if its common or formal or casual etc ((usually)). Actual usage will vary by area regardless of mandarin or cantonese or anything else.  I agree with others that 游泳 or even just 游 is more common than 游水 overall  

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### Answer by username_6 on 2024-08-19. Score: 1

游水，more like a dialect，only understand in Cantonnese.

游泳，more formal, can understand in most Chinese.


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