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A2 noun #7,000 most common 8 min read

游泳池

you yong chi Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 游泳池 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 游泳池 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize 游泳池 as a place where people swim. You will mostly use it in simple sentences like '我去游泳池' (I go to the swimming pool) or '游泳池很大' (The swimming pool is big). You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on identifying the characters and knowing that it refers to a man-made pool for swimming. Think of it as a basic 'place' noun, similar to '学校' (school) or '家' (home). You might also learn it alongside the verb '游泳' (to swim) to form a basic activity pair. At this stage, just being able to say you are at the pool is a great achievement.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 游泳池 with measure words and simple modifiers. You should be able to say '一个游泳池' (a swimming pool) and use adjectives like '漂亮的' (beautiful) or '干净的' (clean). You will likely use it to describe your daily routine or holiday activities. For example, '酒店里有一个大游泳池' (There is a big swimming pool in the hotel). You should also be able to ask for the location of the pool using '在哪里' (zài nǎlǐ). Understanding the difference between '室内' (indoor) and '室外' (outdoor) is also useful at this stage for more specific descriptions.

At the B1 level, you can use 游泳池 in more complex sentence structures, such as using '虽然...但是...' (Although... but...). For example, '虽然这个游泳池很小，但是水很干净' (Although this pool is small, the water is very clean). You will also start encountering the word in more varied contexts, such as community facilities or gym memberships. You should be able to discuss opening times and rules, like '游泳池下午五点关门' (The swimming pool closes at 5 PM). You might also start using the shortened version '泳池' in more casual conversations or when reading signs in a Chinese-speaking environment.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 游泳池 in professional or specific contexts. This includes discussing water quality (水质), maintenance (维护), or safety regulations (安全规定). You can describe different types of pools, such as '恒温游泳池' (heated pool) or '标准游泳池' (standard/competition pool). Your sentences will become more sophisticated, perhaps involving passive voice or complex relative clauses. For example, '被广泛认为是最先进的这个游泳池吸引了许多运动员' (This swimming pool, which is widely considered the most advanced, has attracted many athletes). You can also discuss the social and health benefits of having access to a 游泳池.

At the C1 level, your use of 游泳池 will include idiomatic expressions and high-level vocabulary related to urban planning or architectural design. You might discuss the environmental impact of maintaining a 游泳池 in an arid region or the socioeconomic implications of public versus private pool access. You should be able to read and understand technical manuals or legal disclaimers related to pool safety and liability. Your ability to nuances the term—perhaps discussing '无边际泳池' (infinity pools) in the context of luxury tourism—shows a deep cultural and linguistic understanding beyond the basic noun.

At the C2 level, you can use 游泳池 as a springboard for philosophical or highly technical discussions. You might analyze the 'swimming pool' as a motif in modern Chinese literature or film, representing wealth, Westernization, or isolation. You can speak fluently about the hydraulics, filtration systems, and chemical balances required for large-scale aquatic centers. Your language is indistinguishable from a native speaker's, allowing you to use the term in any register, from slang to academic prose. You understand the subtle connotations the word carries in different historical and social contexts within the Sinosphere.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

游泳池 in 30 Seconds

游泳池 (yóuyǒngchí) is the primary Chinese term for a swimming pool, used in all formal and informal contexts to describe aquatic facilities.
It is a compound noun consisting of '游泳' (to swim) and '池' (pool/pond), and it uses the common measure word '个' (gè).
Common variations include '室内游泳池' for indoor pools and '室外游泳池' for outdoor pools, with '泳池' being a frequent short form.
Essential for discussing travel, fitness, and summer activities, it is a core noun for learners at the HSK 2 / CEFR A2 level.

The term 游泳池 (yóuyǒngchí) is the standard Mandarin Chinese word for a swimming pool. It is a compound noun constructed from three distinct characters: yóu (to swim), yǒng (to swim/diving), and chí (pool or pond). Together, they form a clear and logical description of a facility specifically designed for aquatic exercise and recreation. In daily life, this word is ubiquitous, appearing in contexts ranging from casual summer plans with friends to professional athletic training environments. Whether you are discussing a small private pool in a backyard or a massive Olympic-sized facility, 游泳池 is the primary term you will use. It is a neutral, formal, and universally understood noun across all Mandarin-speaking regions, including Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Structural Breakdown: The first two characters 游泳 (yóuyǒng) function as the verb 'to swim'. The final character 池 (chí) refers to a pool, pond, or cistern. Thus, it literally translates to 'swim-swim pool'.
Common Contexts: Used when booking hotels (酒店游泳池), discussing school facilities (学校游泳池), or talking about public recreation centers (公共游泳池).

夏天的时候，我每天都去游泳池锻炼。(In the summer, I go to the swimming pool every day to exercise.)

Understanding the cultural weight of the swimming pool in modern China is also interesting. Historically, public swimming pools were centers of social activity in urban areas. Today, high-end residential compounds (小区) often boast their own 游泳池 as a sign of luxury and modern living. When you use this word, you are often talking about health, leisure, and the relief from the sweltering heat of Chinese summers. It is important to note that the measure word most commonly used with 游泳池 is 个 (gè), though some might use 座 (zuò) for large, impressive structures.

这个游泳池的水很干净。(The water in this swimming pool is very clean.)

Indoor vs. Outdoor: To specify, use 室内游泳池 (shìnèi yóuyǒngchí) for indoor pools and 室外游泳池 (shìwài yóuyǒngchí) or 露天游泳池 (lùtiān yóuyǒngchí) for outdoor pools.

Finally, when discussing the pool's depth, you would use words like 深 (shēn - deep) and 浅 (qiǎn - shallow). A deep-water pool is a 深水池 (shēnshuǐchí), often found as a section within a larger 游泳池 facility. Mastering this word allows you to navigate leisure activities effectively in any Chinese-speaking environment.

Using 游泳池 correctly involves understanding its role as a location noun. In Chinese grammar, locations typically follow the preposition '在' (zài) to indicate where an action is happening, or they follow verbs of motion like '去' (qù) or '到' (dào). For example, 'I am at the pool' is '我在游泳池' (Wǒ zài yóuyǒngchí). If you are going there, you would say '我去游泳池' (Wǒ qù yóuyǒngchí). It is crucial not to confuse the noun 'swimming pool' with the verb 'to swim'. You don't 'pool' a swim; you 'swim' in a 'pool'.

Verb-Object Relationship: The most common action associated with a 游泳池 is, naturally, 游泳 (yóuyǒng). However, you can also use verbs like 开放 (kāifàng - to open to public) or 维修 (wéixiū - to maintain/repair).

这家酒店的游泳池只对住客开放。(This hotel's swimming pool is only open to guests.)

When describing the pool, adjectives are placed directly before the noun. Common descriptors include 大 (dà - big), 小 (xiǎo - small), 漂亮 (piàoliang - beautiful), or 恒温 (héngwēn - heated/constant temperature). For instance, 'a beautiful swimming pool' is '一个漂亮的游泳池'. Note the use of the measure word '个'. If you are talking about the state of the water within the pool, you might say '游泳池里的水' (the water inside the swimming pool).

我们在游泳池旁边晒太阳。(We are sunbathing next to the swimming pool.)

Indicating Purpose: To say 'go to the pool to swim', the structure is: 去 + 游泳池 + 游泳 (Qù yóuyǒngchí yóuyǒng).

In more advanced sentences, 游泳池 can act as a subject or an object in complex structures. For example, 'The construction of the swimming pool took three months' (游泳池的建造花了三个月). Or, 'I prefer outdoor swimming pools' (我更喜欢室外游泳池). By varying the adjectives and prepositions, you can describe almost any scenario involving a pool.

In China, you will encounter the word 游泳池 in several distinct environments. The most frequent is likely the gym or fitness center (健身房). Most modern, high-end gyms in Tier 1 cities like Beijing or Shanghai advertise their 游泳池 as a key selling point. You will hear staff members saying things like '我们的游泳池是恒温的' (Our swimming pool is heated). Another common place is at schools. Many universities and private international schools have their own 游泳池, and students will often discuss meeting there for PE class or after-school clubs.

Travel and Tourism: At hotels (酒店) or resorts (度假村), the 游泳池 is a central feature. Concierges will tell you the opening hours: '游泳池早上七点开放' (The swimming pool opens at 7 AM).

请问游泳池在几楼？(Excuse me, what floor is the swimming pool on?)

During the summer months, you will hear this word constantly in social circles. Friends might ask each other, '周末我们要不要去游泳池？' (Do we want to go to the swimming pool this weekend?). You will also see it on signage in public parks or sports complexes. In news reports or documentaries about the Olympics, commentators frequently use the term when referring to the competition venue, often specifying it as 竞赛游泳池 (jìngsài yóuyǒngchí - competition swimming pool) or the famous 'Water Cube' (水立方) in Beijing, which contains multiple 游泳池.

You may also hear it in the context of real estate. When looking for an apartment, a real estate agent might highlight that the community has a 游泳池 to justify a higher rent or price. In summary, anywhere people go to escape the heat or exercise in water, the word 游泳池 will be part of the conversation.

For English speakers, one of the most common mistakes when using 游泳池 is confusing the noun with the verb. In English, we often say 'I'm going swimming,' where 'swimming' acts as the activity. In Chinese, you must distinguish between the activity (游泳) and the location (游泳池). You cannot say '我在游泳' (I am swimming) when you mean 'I am at the swimming pool' (我在游泳池). While the words are related, their grammatical functions are distinct.

The 'Pool' Confusion: In English, 'pool' can refer to billiards/snooker. In Chinese, a billiards table is 台球桌 (táiqiú zhuō), and the game is 台球. Never use 游泳池 to refer to the game of pool.

Incorrect: 我去游泳看朋友。(I'm going to the 'swim' to see friends.)
Correct: 我去游泳池看朋友。(I'm going to the swimming pool to see friends.)

Another mistake is the omission of the measure word. While you can sometimes get away with omitting it in very casual speech, '一个游泳池' is the grammatically correct way to say 'a swimming pool'. Beginners often say '我有一个游泳池' (I have a swimming pool) without the '个', which sounds slightly fragmented. Additionally, pay attention to the tones: yóu (2nd), yǒng (3rd), chí (2nd). Mispronouncing the third tone in 泳 can make the word hard to understand for native speakers.

Finally, be careful with the word order when adding descriptions. In English, we might say 'the pool at the hotel'. In Chinese, the location typically comes first as a modifier: '酒店的游泳池' (Hotel's swimming pool). Putting the location after the noun (游泳池在酒店) changes the meaning to 'The swimming pool is at the hotel', which is a statement of location rather than a specific noun phrase.

While 游泳池 is the standard term, there are several related words that you might use depending on the specific type of water body or facility you are referring to. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow for more precise descriptions.

游泳池 vs. 泳池 (yǒngchí): 泳池 is simply the abbreviated version of 游泳池. It is very common in written Chinese (like signs or advertisements) and in fast-paced casual speech. It is slightly less formal but perfectly acceptable in most situations.
游泳池 vs. 水池 (shuǐchí): 水池 is a general term for any pool of water, such as a decorative pond, a cistern, or a small basin. While all 游泳池 are technically 水池, you would never use 水池 to describe a place meant for swimming unless it was very small or primitive.
游泳池 vs. 水上乐园 (shuǐshàng lèyuán): A 水上乐园 is a water park. It contains 游泳池 but also includes slides, wave pools, and other attractions. If you are going for fun and games rather than laps, this might be the word you need.

与其去游泳池，不如去水上乐园玩。(Instead of going to the swimming pool, why don't we go to the water park to play?)

Other related terms include 澡堂 (zǎotáng - public bathhouse), which is common in Northern China but is for bathing, not swimming. There is also 浴缸 (yùgāng - bathtub), which is strictly for personal use in a bathroom. If you are swimming in nature, you would use 海滩 (hǎitān - beach), 湖 (hú - lake), or 河 (hé - river). Knowing when to use 游泳池 versus these other terms ensures you are accurately describing your environment.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '池' (chí) originally meant a city moat. In ancient times, people swam in rivers or natural ponds; the concept of a dedicated 'swimming pool' as a building facility is a relatively modern introduction to China.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /jəʊ jɒŋ tʃiː/

US /joʊ jɔŋ tʃi/

The primary stress in Mandarin is often distributed, but here, the emphasis naturally falls on 'yóuyǒng' as the action, and 'chí' as the location.

Rhymes With

词 (cí) 持 (chí) 迟 (chí) 匙 (chí) 瓷 (cí) 磁 (cí) 辞 (cí) 慈 (cí)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'chí' as 'shí' (confusing 'ch' with 'sh').
Failing to dip low enough on the 3rd tone of 'yǒng'.
Making 'yóu' a flat 1st tone instead of a rising 2nd tone.
Pronouncing 'chí' with a flat tone.
Merging the three syllables into a mumble.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are distinct but have many strokes. The water radical helps.

Writing 3/5

Writing '游' and '泳' requires attention to stroke order and the right-side components.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are 2-3-2, which is a common rising-dipping-rising pattern.

Listening 1/5

It's a very clear, multi-syllabic word that is hard to mistake for others.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

水游泳大小去

Learn Next

救生员更衣室毛巾深浅

Advanced

水质检测循环系统氯气跳水台蛙泳

Grammar to Know

Place nouns with '在'

我在游泳池。

Measure word '个' with facilities

一个游泳池。

Descriptive '的' with nouns

干净的游泳池。

Directional verbs '去/到'

去游泳池。

Locational nouns '里/旁边'

在游泳池里。

Examples by Level

我去游泳池。

I go to the swimming pool.

Simple Subject-Verb-Object structure.

游泳池很大。

The swimming pool is big.

Subject-Adjective structure (omitting 'is' in Chinese).

他在游泳池。

He is at the swimming pool.

Using '在' to indicate location.

游泳池的水很凉。

The pool water is very cool.

Possessive '的' connecting pool and water.

这是一个游泳池。

This is a swimming pool.

Using '是' and the measure word '个'.

你会去游泳池吗？

Will you go to the swimming pool?

Question formed with '吗'.

游泳池里有人。

There are people in the swimming pool.

Using '里' to mean 'inside'.

我不喜欢这个游泳池。

I don't like this swimming pool.

Negative '不' before the verb '喜欢'.

酒店有一个漂亮的游泳池。

The hotel has a beautiful swimming pool.

Using '有' for possession/existence.

我们明天去游泳池游泳吧。

Let's go swim at the swimming pool tomorrow.

Using '吧' for a suggestion.

这个游泳池的水很干净。

The water in this pool is very clean.

Adjective '干净' describing the water.

游泳池在几楼？

What floor is the swimming pool on?

Asking about location/floor.

我不常去公共游泳池。

I don't often go to public swimming pools.

Adverb '常' (often) with negation.

这个游泳池几点开门？

What time does this swimming pool open?

Asking about time.

我喜欢室外游泳池。

I like outdoor swimming pools.

Using '室外' as a modifier.

游泳池旁边有很多椅子。

There are many chairs next to the swimming pool.

Using '旁边' for 'beside'.

虽然天气冷，但游泳池是恒温的。

Although the weather is cold, the pool is heated.

Conjunction '虽然...但...'.

去游泳池之前，请先洗澡。

Please take a shower before going into the pool.

Using '...之前' for 'before'.

这个游泳池因为维修而关闭了。

The swimming pool is closed due to maintenance.

Using '因为...而...' to show cause and effect.

如果你想去游泳池，我可以带你去。

If you want to go to the swimming pool, I can take you.

Conditional '如果...就/可以...'.

由于人太多，游泳池显得很拥挤。

Due to too many people, the pool seems very crowded.

Using '由于' (due to) and '显得' (seems).

我记得这家健身房有一个很大的游泳池。

I remember this gym has a very large swimming pool.

Using '记得' (remember) with a clause.

游泳池的深度是多少？

What is the depth of the swimming pool?

Using '深度' (depth) as a noun.

他在游泳池里游了两个小时。

He swam in the pool for two hours.

Duration of action after the verb.

为了确保安全，游泳池必须配备救生员。

To ensure safety, the swimming pool must be equipped with lifeguards.

Using '为了' (in order to) and '配备' (equipped with).

这个游泳池符合国际比赛标准。

This swimming pool meets international competition standards.

Using '符合' (to meet/comply with).

由于化学物质失衡，游泳池暂时无法使用。

The pool is temporarily unavailable due to a chemical imbalance.

Technical vocabulary: '化学物质' and '失衡'.

他正考虑在后院建一个私人游泳池。

He is considering building a private swimming pool in the backyard.

Using '考虑' (considering) with a future action.

游泳池的维护费用比我想象的要高。

The maintenance cost of the swimming pool is higher than I imagined.

Comparison using '比' and '想象'.

进入游泳池的人员必须遵守相关规定。

Personnel entering the pool must abide by the relevant regulations.

Formal language: '遵守相关规定'.

这座建筑的亮点之一是顶楼的无边际游泳池。

One of the highlights of this building is the infinity pool on the top floor.

Complex noun phrase: '...的亮点之一'.

游泳池的水质每四小时检测一次。

The pool's water quality is tested every four hours.

Frequency of action.

该社区的游泳池已成为居民社交的核心场所。

The community swimming pool has become a core venue for residents' social interaction.

High-level vocabulary: '核心场所' (core venue).

游泳池的设计巧妙地融合了自然景观与现代建筑。

The design of the pool ingeniously integrates natural landscapes with modern architecture.

Adverbial '巧妙地' (ingeniously).

尽管游泳池设施先进，但利用率却出奇地低。

Despite the advanced facilities, the utilization rate of the pool is surprisingly low.

Conjunction '尽管...但...' and '利用率' (utilization rate).

政府计划拨专款修缮老旧的公共游泳池。

The government plans to allocate special funds to renovate old public swimming pools.

Formal terms: '拨专款' (allocate funds) and '修缮' (renovate).

游泳池的安全隐患引起了相关部门的高度重视。

The safety hazards of the swimming pool have drawn high attention from relevant departments.

Abstract nouns: '安全隐患' (safety hazards) and '高度重视' (high attention).

在干旱时期，私人游泳池的用水受到了严格限制。

During drought periods, water use for private swimming pools is strictly restricted.

Passive voice '受到' with '限制'.

这处房产因其独特的室内恒温游泳池而备受青睐。

This property is highly favored for its unique indoor heated swimming pool.

Idiomatic phrase: '备受青睐' (highly favored).

游泳池的扩建工程因资金问题而被迫停工。

The expansion project of the swimming pool was forced to stop due to funding issues.

Passive '被迫' (forced to).

游泳池在此部影片中象征着中产阶级的虚荣与孤独。

The swimming pool symbolizes middle-class vanity and loneliness in this film.

Literary analysis vocabulary: '象征' (symbolize).

通过对游泳池水循环系统的优化，该场馆显著降低了能耗。

By optimizing the pool's water circulation system, the venue significantly reduced energy consumption.

Technical terminology: '水循环系统' and '能耗'.

游泳池不再仅仅是运动场所，更演变为一种生活方式的符号。

The swimming pool is no longer just a place for sports, but has evolved into a symbol of a lifestyle.

Rhetorical structure: '不再仅仅是...更演变为...'.

该报告详尽阐述了公共游泳池在提升国民体质方面的积极作用。

The report elaborates in detail on the positive role of public swimming pools in improving national physical fitness.

Formal academic verbs: '详尽阐述' (elaborate in detail).

游泳池水质的生物化学指标必须严格遵循国家卫生标准。

The biochemical indicators of pool water quality must strictly adhere to national health standards.

Scientific terms: '生物化学指标'.

即便在资源匮乏的地区，游泳池的建设往往也带有某种政治隐喻。

Even in resource-scarce areas, the construction of swimming pools often carries a certain political metaphor.

Advanced concept: '政治隐喻' (political metaphor).

该建筑师对游泳池光影效果的处理达到了炉火纯青的地步。

The architect's handling of light and shadow effects in the swimming pool has reached the level of perfection.

Idiom: '炉火纯青' (attained perfection).

游泳池的运营管理需在经济效益与社会公益之间寻求平衡。

The operation and management of swimming pools need to seek a balance between economic benefits and social welfare.

Management terminology: '经济效益' and '社会公益'.

Common Collocations

公共游泳池

私人游泳池

室内游泳池

室外游泳池

恒温游泳池

游泳池维护

游泳池管理员

游泳池水质

跳水池

无边际游泳池

Common Phrases

去游泳池

— To go to the swimming pool.

我们下午去游泳池。

在游泳池里

— Inside the swimming pool.

孩子们在游泳池里玩。

游泳池开放

— The pool is open.

游泳池现在开放吗？

清理游泳池

— To clean the swimming pool.

工人正在清理游泳池。

封闭游泳池

— To close off the pool.

因为天气原因，他们封闭了游泳池。

游泳池派对

— A pool party.

我们要举办一个游泳池派对。

标准的游泳池

— A standard-sized pool.

这是一个标准的游泳池。

深水游泳池

— A deep-water swimming pool.

初学者不要去深水游泳池。

儿童游泳池

— A children's swimming pool.

那个小池子是儿童游泳池。

游泳池入场券

— Pool entrance ticket.

请出示您的游泳池入场券。

Often Confused With

游泳池 vs 游泳

This is the verb 'to swim'. Don't use it as a noun for the place.

游泳池 vs 水池

General pool/pond. Too broad for a swimming facility.

游泳池 vs 浴缸

Bathtub. Much smaller and for private washing.

Idioms & Expressions

"池鱼之殃"

— To be an innocent victim caught in the crossfire. While it uses '池' (pool), it's a classic idiom.

我们不能让无辜者遭受池鱼之殃。

Literary

"如鱼得水"

— Like a fish in water. Often used to describe someone feeling very comfortable in an environment like a pool.

他在游泳池里真是如鱼得水。

Common

"中流砥柱"

— Mainstay; a pillar of strength. Often used in sports contexts involving swimming.

他是我们游泳队的中流砥柱。

Formal

"背水一战"

— To fight with one's back to the wall. Water-related idiom for determination.

进入决赛，我们要背水一战。

Formal

"水落石出"

— The truth comes to light. Water-related metaphor.

事情总会水落石出的。

Common

"积水成渊"

— Small things add up to something great. Related to the concept of a pool/pond.

学习要积水成渊，不能急功近利。

Literary

"饮水思源"

— Don't forget where your happiness comes from.

我们要饮水思源，感谢帮助过我们的人。

Common

"一潭死水"

— A stagnant pool of water. Used metaphorically for a boring or lifeless situation.

如果不创新，公司就会变成一潭死水。

Common

"混水摸鱼"

— To take advantage of a crisis/confusion.

别想在这次混乱中混水摸鱼。

Common

"清澈见底"

— Crystal clear (water). Often used to describe a good pool.

这里的游泳池水清澈见底。

Descriptive

Easily Confused

游泳池 vs 洗澡间

Both involve water and being undressed.

One is for washing (shower room), the other is for swimming (pool).

我去洗澡间洗澡，然后去游泳池。

游泳池 vs 海滩

Both are places to swim.

One is man-made (pool), the other is natural (beach).

我喜欢去海滩，不喜欢游泳池。

游泳池 vs 喷泉

Both are water features.

A fountain (喷泉) is for looking; a pool is for swimming.

别在喷泉里游泳，去游泳池。

游泳池 vs 池塘

Both are 'chí'.

A pond (池塘) is usually natural and has fish/plants.

池塘里有鱼，游泳池里有氯。

游泳池 vs 台球

English 'pool' means both.

Chinese has completely different words for the sport vs. the water facility.

我不打台球，我去游泳池。

Sentence Patterns

S + 在 + 游泳池

他在游泳池。

S + 去 + 游泳池 + V

我去游泳池游泳。

虽然...但 + 游泳池...

虽然冷，但游泳池很暖和。

游泳池 + 被 + Verb

游泳池被清理了。

以...为特征的游泳池

以无边际为特征的游泳池。

游泳池 + 象征着...

游泳池象征着自由。

General

Adj + 的 + 游泳池

漂亮的游泳池。

General

游泳池 + 旁边/里

游泳池里有很多水。

Word Family

Nouns

游泳

游泳池

泳池

泳帽

泳衣

泳镜

Verbs

游泳

游

游水

Adjectives

多水的

潮湿的

水池

喷泉

浴室

海滩

湖泊

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in summer and urban fitness contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using '游泳' as the place. → 使用 '游泳池'。
游泳 is the action; 游泳池 is the location. You can't 'be in a swim'.
Omitting the measure word. → 一个游泳池。
In Chinese, nouns usually require a classifier when counted or specified.
Confusing with '台球' (Billiards). → 台球桌。
English uses 'pool' for both, but Chinese uses completely different words.
Wrong tone on 'chí'. → chí (2nd tone).
If you use the 1st tone, it might sound like '吃' (eat).
Incorrect word order for 'hotel pool'. → 酒店的游泳池。
The possessor/location modifier must come before the noun.

Tips

Swim Caps are Mandatory

Don't forget to pack a swim cap! Most Chinese pools won't let you in without one.

Shorten it!

Use '泳池' in text messages or when speaking quickly to sound more natural.

Measure Word

Always use '个' when counting pools. '我有三个游泳池' sounds much better than '我有三游泳池'.

Deep Water Signs

Look for '深水区' (deep area) and '浅水区' (shallow area) signs to know where to swim.

Hotel Amenities

When booking a hotel, look for '游泳池' in the facility list to ensure they have one.

Third Tone

Make sure 'yǒng' goes low and then up; it's the heart of the word.

Related Gear

Learn '泳衣' (swimsuit) and '泳镜' (goggles) alongside '游泳池'.

Meeting Point

The pool is a great place to meet people. Say '我们在游泳池见' (See you at the pool).

Fitness

If you want to swim for fitness, look for a '标准池' (standard pool) rather than a hotel pool.

Summer Peak

Be prepared for crowds in July and August at any public 游泳池.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a **YOYO** (yóu) that **YONG**s (yǒng) into a **CHEE**se (chí) flavored pool.

Visual Association

Visualize the three characters: the first two have the 'water' radical (氵) on the left, looking like splashes of water in the pool (池).

Word Web

水 (Water) 游泳 (Swim) 夏天 (Summer) 运动 (Sports) 酒店 (Hotel) 救生员 (Lifeguard) 蓝色 (Blue) 干净 (Clean)

Challenge

Try to say 'I am going to the swimming pool to swim' (我去游泳池游泳) five times fast without messing up the tones.

Word Origin

The word is a modern compound. '游' (yóu) depicts a person swimming in water. '泳' (yǒng) also relates to water and swimming. '池' (chí) originally referred to a moat or a pond.

Original meaning: A pond for swimming.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Always follow the 'shower before entering' and 'swim cap' rules in Chinese pools to avoid being impolite.

In the West, backyard pools are common in suburbs. In China, private backyard pools are rare; most people use community or public pools.

The Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) in Beijing. Mao Zedong's famous swims in the Yangtze River (though not a pool, it's a key aquatic cultural reference). Sun Yang, the famous Chinese Olympic swimmer.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a hotel

游泳池在哪？
开放时间是几点？
有毛巾吗？
是恒温的吗？

At the gym

我想办游泳卡。
游泳池人多吗？
水温是多少？
有教练吗？

With friends

去游泳池玩吧。
带上泳衣。
你会游泳吗？
水很凉。

Safety/Rules

禁止跳水。
必须戴泳帽。
深水区危险。
请洗澡。

Real Estate

小区有游泳池吗？
游泳池是免费的吗？
环境怎么样？
在几号楼？

Conversation Starters

"你经常去游泳池锻炼吗？ (Do you often go to the swimming pool to exercise?)"

"你觉得这个游泳池的水质怎么样？ (What do you think of the water quality in this pool?)"

"你知道这附近哪里有室内游泳池吗？ (Do you know where there's an indoor pool nearby?)"

"夏天的游泳池是不是总是人山人海？ (Are swimming pools always crowded in the summer?)"

"你喜欢在游泳池游泳还是在海里游泳？ (Do you like swimming in a pool or in the sea?)"

Journal Prompts

描述你最喜欢的一个游泳池。它在哪里？为什么你喜欢它？ (Describe your favorite swimming pool. Where is it? Why do you like it?)

如果你家里有一个游泳池，你会怎么设计它？ (If you had a swimming pool at home, how would you design it?)

写一次你在游泳池发生的有趣的事情。 (Write about a funny thing that happened to you at a swimming pool.)

比较室内游泳池和室外游泳池的优缺点。 (Compare the pros and cons of indoor and outdoor swimming pools.)

讨论公共游泳池对社区的重要性。 (Discuss the importance of public swimming pools to a community.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, '泳池' is a very common abbreviation and is used frequently in both speech and writing. It sounds slightly more casual but is acceptable in most situations.

The most common measure word is '个' (gè). For large or magnificent pools, you can use '座' (zuò). Example: 一个游泳池 or 一座漂亮的游泳池。

You say '恒温游泳池' (héngwēn yóuyǒngchí). '恒温' means constant temperature.

Use '在' to mean 'at the pool' (location). Use '到' or '去' to mean 'to the pool' (direction/motion). Example: 我在游泳池 (I am at the pool) vs. 我去游泳池 (I am going to the pool).

Yes, in almost all public and gym 游泳池 in China, wearing a 泳帽 (yǒngmào) is mandatory for hygiene reasons.

You can ask '这个游泳池深吗？' (Is this swimming pool deep?) or '水深多少？' (How deep is the water?).

It is called '无边际游泳池' (wúbiānjì yóuyǒngchí) or simply '无边泳池'.

No, 游泳池 specifically refers to a man-made structure. For a lake, use '湖' (hú).

You say '游泳池边' (yóuyǒngchí biān) or '游泳池旁边' (yóuyǒngchí pángbiān).

It's called '儿童游泳池' (értóng yóuyǒngchí) or '浅水池' (qiǎnshuǐchí - shallow pool).