TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
泳
泳 ＝ 氵 ＋ 永
ㄩㄥˇ · yǒng
verb — to swim
字源 FORM — what the parts do
氵義water
Water (氵) plus 永. 永 is itself a long forking stream, drawn out to mean lasting; here it lends both the watery image and the sound yǒng. 說文: 潛行水中也 — to move along under the water. Body pushing through the long water: to swim.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一個人在長長的水（永）裡，手一划腳一蹬，往前游。
A swimmer in the long water (永), arms pulling, legs kicking — moving through it.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)游泳— to swim常用
→泳池、泳衣— swimming (pool; suit)常用
→仰泳、自由泳— backstroke; freestyle
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension