verb HSK 4
Traditional 遊覽
yóu lǎn
to go sightseeing · to tour · to visit (a place)

Meaning

游览 means to visit and look around a place for pleasure, typically a scenic spot, tourist attraction, or place of cultural interest. It emphasizes leisurely observation and appreciation of sights, rather than just passing through. The word combines 游 (to travel, roam) and 览 (to look at, view), suggesting a purposeful visit to see and experience something.

Usage

游览 is commonly used in travel contexts and is more formal than casual alternatives like 逛 (guàng). It typically takes a place object, especially famous landmarks, museums, parks, or scenic areas. It's the standard verb for organized sightseeing and tour activities. Often appears in tourism materials, travel guides, and formal speech about visiting attractions.

Examples

  1. 01
    我们明天打算去游览长城。
    Wǒmen míngtiān dǎsuàn yóulǎn Chángchéng.
    We plan to visit the Great Wall tomorrow.
  2. 02
    游览这座城市需要至少三天时间。
    Yóulǎn zhè zuò chéngshì xūyào zhìshǎo sān tiān shíjiān.
    Touring this city requires at least three days.

Characters

Measure words

  • 游览了两次故宫

Common collocations

  • 游览名胜
    yóu lǎn míng shèng
    to tour famous scenic spots
  • 游览景点
    yóu lǎn jǐng diǎn
    to visit tourist attractions
  • 游览
    yóu lǎn
    tourist area, scenic area
  • 游览胜地
    yóu lǎn shèng
    famous tourist destination

Origin

Both characters have ancient roots. 游 originally depicted a person flowing like water, suggesting free movement. 览 combines 见 (to see) with a phonetic component, emphasizing the act of viewing or observing.

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