Which one should you use?
In English, people often say they are "playing" a sport or a game, but in Japanese, 遊ぶ is rarely used for organized sports or competitive games. Instead, speakers use verbs like する (suru) or specific game-related verbs.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The dictionary form 遊ぶ is used in casual settings or with friends. For standard conversation with strangers or superiors, use the polite form 遊びます. In very formal settings or written language, the expression 遊戯する (yūgi suru) is used to convey a more formal tone. For a colloquial way to say one is playing a lot or playing excessively, you can use 遊びまくる (asobimakuru).
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe someone who is currently in the middle of playing or hanging out, you can use the continuous form 遊んでいる.
How do you pronounce it?
asobu
Did you know?
- In adult contexts, 遊ぶ can be a euphemism for dating or having a romantic fling, often implying a lack of serious commitment.
- In Japanese carpentry and engineering, 遊び (asobi) refers to the intentional 'play' or clearance left in a joint to allow for movement and expansion.
- While 遊ぶ means 'to play', the word for 'to play a musical instrument' is 弾く (hiku) for strings or 吹く (fuku) for wind instruments.
Examples in context
- 僕のカードで遊ぶ？Do you want to play with my credit card?This sentence uses 遊ぶ to ask about playing with a credit card.Tatoeba #10586066 by small_snow, translation #10502167 by DJ_Saidez
- 通りで遊ぶと危険です。It is dangerous to play in the street.This sentence uses 遊ぶ to warn about the danger of playing in the street.Tatoeba #125655 by bunbuku, translation #278337 by CK
- 道で遊ぶのは危険です。It's dangerous to play in the street!This sentence uses 遊ぶ to express that playing in the street is dangerous.Tatoeba #1170917 by bunbuku, translation #3469316 by tabidots
- 週末に友達と公園で遊びます。I play with my friends at the park on weekends.
- 夏休みにはプールで遊びまくるつもりだ。I plan to play a lot at the pool during summer vacation.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are making plans for the weekend.
- 大翔 Hiroto今週末、一緒に遊ぶ？Konshuumatsu, issho ni asobu?Do you want to hang out together this weekend?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、ぜひ遊ぼう！Un, zehi asobou!Yeah, let's definitely hang out!
- 大翔 Hirotoどこで遊ぶ？Doko de asobu?Where shall we go?
- 結衣 Yui公園で遊ぶのはどう？Kouen de asobu no wa dou?How about hanging out at the park?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 遊ぶ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
