なぶる

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

tease; make fun of; mock

Covers light teasing as well as harsher ridicule; the degree depends on context. Often implies a playful or mean-spirited attitude toward a person.

• 弟おとうとはいつも私わたしをなぶって笑わらっている。

  My younger brother is always teasing me and laughing.

• 彼かれは同どう僚りょうの失しっ敗ぱいをなぶるような言いい方かたをした。

  He spoke in a way that mocked his colleague's mistake.

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

play with; fiddle with; tinker with

Used for idly handling or toying with an object, not a person. Less common than the teasing sense.

• 彼かれはペンをなぶりながら考かんがえ込こんでいた。

  He was deep in thought while fiddling with a pen.