Ever say “I’m going swimming at the beach” — only to be met with puzzled looks in Taiwan? 🏖️ You’re not alone! In this episode, Mindy and Joeru unpack the surprising cultural differences behind the words 游泳 (yóuyǒng) and 玩水 (wánshuǐ), and why they don’t mean the same thing to everyone.

In this episode, we cover:
– Why “游泳” feels like a serious sport in Taiwan, not a casual beach activity
– What counts as “swimming” vs. just “playing in water”
– Why Taiwanese public pools require swim caps (and more!)
– How culture, geography, and traditional beliefs shape our relationship with water
– Bonus: Similar examples like “爬山” vs. “登山”

🗣 Listener Challenge:
How is swimming viewed in your home country? 🏊‍♂️ Is it a casual pastime or a structured sport? Tag us @bitesize.chinese and share your thoughts — or DM us if you’ve ever been confused about “游泳”!

🎙️ The Bitesize Chinese Podcast helps you bridge the gap between classroom Mandarin and how people actuallyspeak — with all the quirks, slang, and culture that come with it. Each bi-weekly episode is a bite-sized challenge designed to stretch your skills and bring you from intermediate to almost advanced — one conversation at a time. Tune in, take a bite, and keep growing with us! 🎧💬

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Ep.152 到底是游泳還是玩水？ 🌊🤯 Why Don’t Taiwanese People “Swim” at the Beach? 13:33 Share

Bitesize Chinese 一口中文

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Ep.152 到底是游泳還是玩水？ 🌊🤯 Why Don’t Taiwanese People “Swim” at the Beach?