playing at; make-believe; pretend
Attaches to nouns to mean playing a game of pretending to be or do that thing. Often used in children's games, but also for playful imitation by adults.
The children are playing doctor.
The children played store at the park.
On the holiday, we enjoyed playing at cooking as a family.
going round in circles; game of cat and mouse; pointless back-and-forth · itachi-gokko; Edo-period children's hand game
playing war (children's game)
make-believe play; pretend play
play-fighting; mock battle
Kana-only suffix; no kanji spelling is given.
The suffix is of uncertain origin. It forms words denoting imitation, make-believe, or a game in which participants act out the role named by the preceding element.