How to Say "Playground" in Japanese

遊び場

asobiba[a̠so̞bʲiba̠]

The Japanese word for playground is 遊び場 (asobiba).

遊び場 is used to refer to an open space or area where children can play.

Meaning: open space for children to play in (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is a compound of 遊び (asobi), meaning 'play' and 場 (ba), meaning 'place'.

asobiba

The word 遊び (asobi) can also refer to 'slack' or 'play' in a mechanical sense, such as the wiggle room in a steering wheel or a loose bolt.
In a metaphorical sense, 遊び場 can be used to describe a 'playground' for adults, such as a casino or a specific hobbyist district, implying a place of leisure rather than children's equipment.
While 遊び場 (asobiba) describes the general concept of a place to play, a specific playground with equipment like swings is more commonly called 公園 (kōen), which literally means 'park'.

Kono chikaku ni ii asobi no ba ga arimasu ka? (この近くにいい遊びの場がありますか？)
Are there any good play areas around here?
この近くに大きな遊び場があります。
Kono chikaku ni ookina asobiba ga arimasu.
There is a large playground near here.
子供たちの遊び場はどこですか？
Kodomo-tachi no asobiba wa doko desu ka?
Where is the playground for the children?
新しい遊び場が完成しました。
Atarashii asobiba ga kansei shimashita.
A new playground has been completed.

Two friends are deciding where to go with their kids.

陽葵 Himari

近くにいい遊び場を知っていますか？
Chikaku ni ii asobiba o shitte imasu ka?
Do you know a good playground nearby?
蓮 Ren

はい、公園の中に素敵な遊び場がありますよ。
Hai, kouen no naka ni suteki na asobiba ga arimasu yo.
Yes, there is a lovely playground inside the park.
陽葵 Himari

蓮さんはそこに行ったことがありますか？
Ren-san wa soko ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?
Ren, have you ever been there?
蓮 Ren

はい、一度行きました。とても広いです。
Hai, ichido ikimashita. Totemo hiroi desu.
Yes, I went there once. It is very spacious.

Sources

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