遊びたい
asobitai
The Japanese phrase for "want to play" is 遊びたい (asobitai).
遊びたい is used to express a desire to engage in a fun activity or game. Beyond just playing games, the base verb can also mean "to hang out" with friends, making it the standard way to express a desire to spend time with others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb stem of asobu (to play/hang out) and the suffix -tai (expressing desire).
How does it change in a sentence?
The desire suffix -tai can be changed to its negative form, -takunai, to say you do not want to do something. For example, 遊びたくない means "do not want to play".
How do you pronounce it?
asobitai
Did you know?
- While 遊びたい means 'want to play' for children, adults often use it as a euphemism for dating or romantic rendezvous, particularly when using the term 遊び to describe a non-serious relationship.
- In Japanese, the root verb asobu is also used to describe the physical 'play' or wiggle room in a mechanical part, such as the gap in a steering wheel.
- While asobitai expresses a desire, using it directly with a superior or a teacher can come across as strangely blunt or even childish, because it focuses entirely on your own subjective wants.
Examples in context
- トムと遊びたい？Do you want to play with Tom?This example shows how to ask if someone wants to play with Tom using 遊びたい.Tatoeba #10593098 by small_snow, translation #3871262 by CK
- 友達と外で遊びたいな。I want to play outside with my friends.This sentence demonstrates using 遊びたい to express a desire to play outside with friends.Tatoeba #11102004 by small_snow, translation #8015515 by CK
- 遊びたい！I want to play.This is a simple way to express the desire to play using 遊びたい.Tatoeba #11965862 by DJ_Saidez, translation #2011294 by CK
- 友達1: 遊ぼうか？
友達2: いいね！どこで遊ぼう？Friend 1: Wanna play? Friend 2: Sounds good! Where shall we play?
Example conversation
Two children are talking about what to do during their break.
- 陽太 Yota結衣ちゃん、公園で遊びたい？Yui-chan, kouen de asobitai?Yui, do you want to play at the park?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、すごく遊びたい！Un, sugoku asobitai!Yes, I really want to play!
- 陽太 Yotaじゃあ、準備して行こう。Jaa, junbi shite ikou.Then, let's get ready and go.
- 結衣 Yuiやったー、楽しみ！Yattaa, tanoshimi!Yay, I can't wait!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
