遊ぶ
あそぶ
hepburn asobu
to play, to hang out
Part of speech · godan-verb
Pattern visualization
no decomposition available
Examples
- 子供が公園で遊んでいます。Children are playing in the park.
- 今度一緒に遊びましょう。Let's hang out next time.
Collocations
~で遊ぶ友達と遊ぶ遊びに行く (go play/visit)遊び (noun, fun)遊ばせる (let play, causative)
Mnemonic
遊ぶ asobu — a godan -bu verb, with a wider bosom than the English "play." Adults too call a casual meeting 遊ぶ — 友達と遊ぶ, hanging out with friends. 遊びに行く is going over to someone's place to spend the time. Where "play" turns awkward in adult life, the Japanese word stays natural. Kanji-reading kin: 遊 reads Korean 'yu' (遊戱), Mandarin yóu.
Quick check
What is the te-form of 遊ぶ?