遊あそび

〈事こと〉という遊あそびをするto play a game called ~
子こ供どもたちはかくれんぼという遊あそびをした。
The children played a game called hide-and-seek.
〈物もの〉に遊あそびがあるthere is some play/slack in ~ (mechanically)
このハンドルには少すこし遊あそびがある。
This steering wheel has a bit of play in it.
〈事こと〉に遊あそびを持もたせるto allow some leeway or flexibility in ~
計けい画かくに少すこし遊あそびを持もたせておいた。
I left some slack in the plan just in case.
遊あそび半はん分ぶんで〈動どう詞し〉to do something half-jokingly, not seriously
彼かれは遊あそび半はん分ぶんでその仕し事ごとを始はじめた。
He started the job half as a joke, not taking it seriously.

Expressions

遊あそびに行いくgo out to have fun; go on an outing; go visit (a friend)
遊あそびに来くるcome to visit; drop in; come and stay
子ねの日ひの遊あそびne-no-hi-no-asobi; New Year's herb gathering and pine pulling on the first Day of the Rat

Kanji

遊play

Related words· 7

娯ご楽らくN2sense 2
娯楽 is a formal, written term for entertainment or recreation, while 遊び is the everyday word covering both children's play and adult leisure.
遊ゆう戯ぎ sense 1
遊戯 is a stiffer, more formal word often used for structured children's games or kindergarten activities, whereas 遊び is the general, casual term.
レジャーN2sense 2
レジャー is a loanword focused on adult leisure activities like travel or sports, while 遊び covers a broader range including children's play.
ゲームN4sense 1
ゲーム refers specifically to a game with rules, while 遊び is the more general concept of playing or having fun.

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ごっこ
遊び is the general word for play or a game, while ごっこ specifically means pretend play imitating a role or scenario.
プレイN3
遊び is the native, everyday word for play or recreation, while プレー often sounds more like a borrowed term used in games or modern contexts.
戯たわむれN1
遊び is the everyday word for play or recreation, while 戯れ is more literary and often carries a jesting or flirtatious nuance.

Opposites

仕し事ごとN5sense 2
仕事 means work or one's job, standing in direct contrast to 遊び, which means play or leisure.

Word family· 61

遊あそび場ば
playground; play area
夜よ遊あそび
nightlife; night amusements
遊あそび心ごころ
playfulness; playful mood · imaginativeness; creative whimsy
火ひ遊あそび
playing with fire (literal) · playing with fire (figurative); doing something dangerous · playing around (romantically); flirting; having an affair

Written forms

遊あそびUsage91%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
あそびUsage9%
アソビUsage<1%

Etymology

Noun form of the verb 遊ぶ (asobu, 'to play'), from Old Japanese. The mechanical and flexibility senses developed metaphorically from the idea of 'free movement' or 'room to move'.

水みず遊あそび

playing in the water; water play

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遊あそび人にん
playboy; libertine; debauchee · professional gambler · idler; freeloader; person without a steady job
川かわ遊あそび
playing in a river; river fun
砂すな遊あそび
playing in the sand; sand play
手て遊あそび
plaything; playing with a toy · gambling · hand-game; activity using hand gestures
遊あそび仲なか間まN3
playmate; playfellow
遊あそび回まわるN2
play around; gallivant about
土つち遊あそび
playing with dirt; making things out of dirt for fun
外そと遊あそび
playing outside; outdoor play
女おんな遊あそび
womanizing; chasing after women
悪わる遊あそび
prank; mischief; evil pleasures; gambling
泥どろ遊あそび
playing in the mud; mud play
海うみ遊あそび
playing in the sea; sea play
田た遊あそび
ritual performance for a good rice harvest
男おとこ遊あそび
chasing after men; playing around with men

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