操場 / 操场
cāochǎng
The English phrase "playground" can be translated into Chinese as 操場 / 操场 (cāochǎng), 遊樂園 / 游乐园 or 遊樂場 / 游乐场 depending on the specific type of place.
Meaning: open space for children to play in (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 操場 / 操场 | cāochǎng |
| 遊樂園 / 游乐园 | yóulèyuán |
| 遊樂場 / 游乐场 | yóulèchǎng |
In Chinese, the term you choose depends on whether you are referring to a sports field, an amusement park or a recreational area with play equipment.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 操場 / 操场 (cāochǎng) is composed of 操 (cāo), meaning to practice or exercise and 場 (chǎng), meaning a field or place.
Which one should you use?
操場 / 操场 (cāochǎng) is used specifically for a school playground or a large open field used for physical exercise and sports. 遊樂園 / 游乐园 (yóulèyuán) refers to an amusement park containing rides. 遊樂場 / 游乐场 (yóulèchǎng) is used for an amusement area or a recreational space, which often implies a place with specific play equipment.
How do you pronounce it?
cāochǎng
Did you know?
- The word 遊樂 / 游乐 (yóulè) contains the character 樂 / 乐 (lè), which is the same character used for 'music' when pronounced differently, linking play and music in Chinese thought.
- In Chinese schools, 操場 is not just for play but is the site of daily collective morning exercises where students perform synchronized calisthenics together.
- While 操場 / 操场 (cāochǎng) is the standard term for a school playground, the first character 操 (cāo) also means 'to manipulate' or 'to handle' something, which is why it is used in terms for 'operating' machinery.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “playground” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
