swim
泳 centers on moving through water: swimming. The single given meaning is straightforward and concrete.
泳 combines 氵 (water) with 永, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of long or flowing movement, together expressing swimming.
Water 氵 on the left and 永 (eternal) on the right: imagine swimming in an eternal, endless pool of water.
For エイ, picture an 'A'-shaped swimmer gliding through the water: 'A' -> エイ, and the swimmer's body forms the letter A as they swim.
to swim
swimming
competitive swimming; swimming race
swimming; bathing
breaststroke (swimming)
backstroke (swimming)
way of swimming
swimming style
long-distance swimming
migration; movement; phoresis
to let (someone) swim; to make (someone) swim; to release (fish) into the water; to set (fish) swimming
a swim
paper electrophoresis
capillary electrophoresis
to wade through a crowd
side stroke
powerful swimming
International Swimming Federation; FINA
space walk
completion of a swim; swimming the whole distance