游艺 (yóuyì): recreation; entertainment

Meanings

1 recreation; entertainment
2 amusements; games

Characters

游

Examples

学校组织了游艺活动。

Xuéxiào zǔzhīle yóuyì huódòng.

The school organized recreational activities.

他经常去游艺厅打游戏。

Tā jīngcháng qù yóuyìtīng dǎ yóuxì.

He often goes to the arcade to play games.

Tips

register

Slightly old-fashioned and formal. Common compounds: 游艺厅 (yóuyìtīng, arcade / amusement hall), 游艺会 (yóuyìhuì, variety show / fun fair). For 'entertainment' in everyday speech use 娱乐 (yúlè).

history

Originally from the Confucian 《论语·述而》: 'Set your heart on the Way, abide by virtue, lean on benevolence, and 游 in the arts (志于道，据于德，依于仁，游于艺)' — where 游艺 meant 'roaming / steeping oneself in the six arts (六艺)'. Modern usage simplified this to 'recreation'.