背 泳(せおよ)ぎ

せおよぎ

noun

backstroke

1. backstroke

A swimming stroke performed while floating on the back. The arms alternate in a windmill motion while the legs perform a flutter kick. The only competitive stroke started in the water rather than from a diving block.

背泳(せおよ)ぎは顔(かお)を水(みず)につけなくていい。

With backstroke, you don't have to put your face in the water.

背泳(せおよ)ぎは天井(てんじょう)を見(み)ながら泳(およ)ぐ。

You swim backstroke while looking at the ceiling.

背泳(せおよ)ぎで壁(かべ)にぶつかりそうになった。

I almost hit the wall while swimming backstroke.

背泳(せおよ)ぎはまっすぐ泳(およ)ぐのが難(むずか)しい。

It's hard to swim in a straight line doing backstroke.

水泳(すいえい)教室(きょうしつ)で背泳(せおよ)ぎを習(なら)い始(はじ)めたが、体(からだ)が沈(しず)んでしまってなかなか上達(じょうたつ)しない。

I started learning backstroke in swimming class, but my body keeps sinking and I'm not improving easily.

Alternate names

バックストローク (backstroke - from English)
背(せ)浮(う)き (floating on back - basic position)

Technique

バタ足(あし) (flutter kick)
腕(うで)の回転(かいてん) (arm rotation)
体(からだ)のローリング (body rolling)

Characteristics

Face stays above water (easier breathing)
Cannot see where you're going
Uses flags (背泳(せおよ)ぎフラッグ) to warn of approaching wall
Started from in the water, not diving block

Competitive events

50m, 100m, 200m 背泳(せおよ)ぎ
Swum first in 個人(こじん)メドレー (individual medley)
First leg of メドレーリレー (medley relay)

Tips for learners

耳(みみ)まで水(みず)に浸(つ)かる (submerge ears)
腰(こし)を浮(う)かせる (keep hips up)
まっすぐ泳(およ)ぐのが難(むずか)しい (swimming straight is difficult)

Common collocations

背泳(せおよ)ぎで泳(およ)ぐ (to swim backstroke)
背泳(せおよ)ぎのターン (backstroke turn)

Related Words

Related: 平泳(ひらおよ)ぎ (swimming stroke)

core

Added 2026.1.18 8:09 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

06500/06527_seoyogi