Translation guide
The English phrase 'hang out' refers to spending time with others in a relaxed, informal way. Japanese has several expressions depending on the nuance: casual socializing, loitering, or simply being together. The most common and natural way to say 'hang out' is 遊ぶ (asobu), which literally means 'play' but is widely used for casual get-togethers among friends. Other options include ぶらぶらする (burabura suru) for aimless wandering, and たむろする (tamuro suru) for loitering in a group. For hanging out at someone's house, 遊びに来る (asobi ni kuru) is common. Note that direct translations like 掛ける (kakeru) are incorrect.
To socialize with friends in a relaxed setting, such as chatting, playing games, or just being together.
The most common and natural way to say 'hang out' among friends. It implies doing something enjoyable together, not necessarily playing games. Can be used for any casual get-together.
週末は友達と遊んだ。
I hung out with my friends on the weekend.
今度遊ぼうよ。
Let's hang out sometime.
Literally 'spend time together'. More neutral and can be used in slightly more formal contexts, but still natural for casual plans.
昨日は彼女と一緒に過ごした。
I hung out with my girlfriend yesterday.
To go out to hang out. Often used when going to a specific place like a park, mall, or friend's house.
明日、カラオケに遊びに行かない？
Wanna go hang out at karaoke tomorrow?
To come over to hang out. Used when inviting someone to your place or when someone visits you.
今度うちに遊びに来てね。
Come hang out at my place sometime.
Slang for hanging out in a group, often with a nuance of always being together. Can sound slightly negative, like 'cling together'.
あいつら、いつもつるんでるよな。
Those guys are always hanging out together.
To spend time in a place without a specific purpose, often walking around or standing around.
To stroll or hang around without a clear goal. Often used for window shopping or walking around town.
街をぶらぶらしよう。
Let's hang out around town.
To loiter in a group, often in front of a convenience store or station. Can have a slightly negative connotation of hanging around doing nothing.
コンビニの前でたむろしてる高校生がいる。
There are high school students hanging out in front of the convenience store.
To loiter or hang around, often with a nuance of restlessness or suspiciousness. Not typically used for casual socializing.
To lean or protrude from an opening.
To lean out, as from a window. Literally 'push one's body out'.
窓から身を乗り出さないでください。
Please don't hang out of the window.
To hang down or dangle. Used for things like hanging from a bar or clothes hanging out of a bag.
シャツがズボンからぶら下がっている。
Your shirt is hanging out of your pants.
The verb 掛ける means 'to hang' something on a hook or wall. It does not mean 'hang out' in the social sense. Using it would be a literal translation error.
遊ぶ implies active socializing or playing, while ぶらぶらする is more about aimless wandering. Use 遊ぶ for meeting friends, and ぶらぶらする for strolling around without a plan.
変な男が家の周りをうろついている。
A strange man is hanging around the house.