Translation guide
To stay in a place without a clear purpose, often waiting or idling. Japanese expressions vary by nuance: waiting, loitering, spending time casually, or being in a place.
To remain in a location, usually waiting for someone or something, without doing much.
Literally 'waiting'. Use when the hanging around is specifically to wait for someone or something.
I'm hanging around in front of the station waiting for a friend.
Hanging around idly, strolling or loitering without a clear purpose. Casual.
I was hanging around in the park.
Hanging around restlessly, often implying aimless wandering or loitering. Can have a slightly negative nuance.
A strange person is hanging around in front of the house.
To be around that area. Used when someone is just present in a general location.
He's always hanging around there.
To be in a place for leisure, without a specific activity, often with friends.
Literally 'playing', but used for hanging out casually with friends. Very common.
After school, I was hanging around in the park with friends.
Lounging around lazily, killing time. Casual.
I hung around at home doing nothing.
To hang around in a group, often loitering. Slightly negative or slangy.
Young people are hanging around in front of the convenience store.
To remain in a place after an event or when you should leave.
To be in the vicinity, often used when looking for someone or describing presence.
Directly translating 'hang around' as 掛ける (kakeru) or 吊るす (tsurusu) is incorrect. Use the phrases above depending on the nuance.
客がなかなか居座って帰らない。
The guest is hanging around and won't leave.