遊ぶ
asobu[a̠so̞bɯ̟]
To play in Japanese is 遊ぶ (asobu).
The verb 遊ぶ means to act in a manner such that one has fun. The verb 遊ぶ is commonly used to mean hanging out or spending leisure time with friends, not just playing with toys.
Meaning: act in a manner such that one has fun (verb)
Which one should you use?
Additionally, the noun 遊び refers to a playful activity.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the current state of hanging out or playing, you can use the continuous form 遊んでいる.
How do you pronounce it?
asobu
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 遊ぶ when you mean playing a musical instrument or playing a specific sport.
Did you know?
- While 遊ぶ means 'to play', it is used to describe the 'play' or 'slack' in a mechanical part, such as the gap in a steering wheel.
- In Japanese, the verb 遊ぶ can describe an adult's romantic or sexual dalliance, often implying a casual or illicit affair.
- The word 遊ぶ was first recorded in the Kojiki in 712 CE, making it one of the oldest documented verbs in the Japanese language.
Examples in context
- ここで遊ぶな。Don't play here.This sentence uses 遊ぶ to express a prohibition against playing in a specific location.Tatoeba #9550392 by small_snow, translation #61858 by CK
- 僕のカードで遊ぶ？Do you want to play with my credit card?This sentence uses 遊ぶ in the context of playing with a credit card.Tatoeba #10586066 by small_snow, translation #10502167 by DJ_Saidez
- 絶対に道路で遊ぶな。Never play on the road.This sentence uses 遊ぶ to provide a strong warning against playing on the road.Tatoeba #141939 by small_snow, translation #272631 by CK
- 友達と遊ぶ。To play with friends.
- 休みの日に遊びまくった。I played a lot on my day off.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are talking about their plans for the weekend.
- 美咲 Misaki今週末はどこで遊ぶ？Konshūmatsu wa doko de asobu?Where shall we hang out this weekend?
- 健太 Kenta駅前の新しいモールで遊ぼう。Ekimae no atarashii mōru de asobō.Let's hang out at the new mall in front of the station.
- 美咲 Misakiいいね！友達も一緒に遊ぶかな？Ii ne! Tomodachi mo issho ni asobu kana?Sounds good! I wonder if our friends will join us?
- 健太 Kentaうん、みんなで遊ぼう。Un, minna de asobō.Yeah, let's all hang out together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “play” translations and entries 遊ぶ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 遊ぶ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
