花样游泳 (huā yàng yóu yǒng) — synchronized swimming (sport) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal term for synchronized swimming, the sport where athletes perform choreographed routines in water. Note that 花样 can also mean 'pattern' or 'trick' in other words (e.g. 花样翻新), but here it refers to the artistic routines.

noun

synchronized swimming (sport)

Examples

花样游泳。
Tā cóng xiǎo jiù kāi shǐ liàn xí huā yàng yóu yǒng.
She started practicing synchronized swimming from a young age.
花样游泳。
Zhè chǎng huā yàng yóu yǒng bǐ sài fēi cháng jīng cǎi.
This synchronized swimming competition was very exciting.
花样游泳。
huā yàng yóu yǒng Shì yí xiàng xū yào hěn qiáng tǐ lì de yùn dòng.
Synchronized swimming is a sport that requires great physical strength.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

花样patterns

花huāpattern样yàngshape

联合Side by side

游泳swimming

游yóuswim泳yǒngswim

联合Side by side

花样 gives the patterned designs, and 游泳 is swimming; together they name synchronized swimming.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樣; 样 is its simplified writing.

木羕樣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

羕

羕yàng樣yàng

Same sound today

For 样, the traditional form 樣 pairs 木 (wood) with 羕 as a sound part.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

斿

斿yóu游yóu

Same sound today

游 combines 水 (water) with 斿, which gives the sound yóu and also relates to travelling.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

氵永泳

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐ

Sound part声符shēngfú

永

永yǒng泳yǒng

Same sound today

泳 pairs 氵 (water) with 永, which gives the sound. The water part fits the meaning of swimming.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.