How to say "entertain" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- godan verb, transitive verbA common word for 'entertain' as hosting a guest: welcoming visitors and looking after them hospitably, such as when someone visits your home. Usually written in kana alone.
- 遊ばすあそばすgodan verb, transitive verbCovers 'entertain' as keeping someone amused — letting a person play so they stay occupied and happy, as when minding a child.
- 扱うあつかうgodan verb, transitive verbReally means to deal with and handle people or things, and to treat people — how you treat someone, well or badly. For the usual senses of 'entertain' it is seldom the word you want.
- 振舞うふるまうgodan verb, transitive verbCovers 'entertain' in the sense of treating someone to food or drink — providing a meal or drinks for someone, as when you entertain a friend to lunch.
- 取り持つとりもつgodan verb, transitive verbCovers 'entertain' with guests as its object: receiving visitors and attending to them as a host. In this guest-entertaining sense it overlaps with もてなす.
For hospitality toward guests use 「もてなす」 or 「取り持つ」, for treating someone to food or drink use 「振舞う」, for keeping someone amused use 「遊ばす」; 「扱う」 means to deal with or handle and is seldom the right choice.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- もてなすto treat (a guest)
- 遊ばすあそばすto let (someone) play
- 扱うあつかうto deal with (a person)
- 遇するぐうするto entertain
- 接伴せっぱんentertain
- 遇すぐうすto entertain
- 相手をするあいてをするto keep company
- 遊ばせるあそばせるto let (someone) play
- 楽しませるたのしませるto amuse
- 振る舞うふるまうto treat (someone) to (food or drink)
- くすぐるto make (someone) laugh
- 取り持つとりもつto entertain (guests)
- かまうto keep company
- 抱くいだくto have (a thought or feeling)
- 差し挟むさしはさむto harbor (e.g. doubts)
See also
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