How to say "play" in Japanese

• 遊ぶあそぶJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb for playing in the sense of having fun: children playing games or sports, or people out enjoying themselves. It does not cover performing music or acting a part.
  ２人ふたりの子供こどもが通とおりで遊あそんでいた。↗

  There were two children playing on the street.
• プレイCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA loanword noun for play or recreation, often found in game-related contexts such as video games. To say that someone is playing, the verb 遊ぶ is what you need.
• 弾くひくJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for playing a stringed or keyboard instrument, such as the piano or guitar. Use it when 'play' means making music, not for games, sports, or children at play.
  誰だれかがピアノを弾ひいている。↗

  Somebody is playing the piano.
• 遊びあそびJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe noun for play, playing, or a game — the noun counterpart of the verb 遊ぶ. It covers children's play and games, and fun and amusement generally.
• 演ずるえんずるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbThe verb for the theatrical sense of 'play': to act a part or play a role. Use it when an actor plays a character in a play or film.

Choose by sense: 「遊ぶ」 is the verb for playing and having fun, 「遊び」 the matching noun, 「弾く」 for stringed or keyboard instruments, 「演ずる」 for playing a role, and 「プレイ」 a loanword noun for play or recreation.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 遊ぶあそぶto play (games, sports)
• プレイplay
• 弾くひくto play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
• 遊びあそびplay
• 演ずるえんずるto act (a part)
• 芝居しばいplay
• 遊戯ゆうぎplay
• 劇げきdrama
• 緩みゆるみslack
• やるto do
• 戯れたわむれplay
• 戯曲ぎきょくdrama
• 演じるえんじるto act (a part)
• ドラマ(non-documentary) television series
• 叩くたたくto strike
• 演劇えんげきdrama
• 戯れるたわむれるto be playful
• ふざけplay
• 弾ずるだんずるto play (a stringed instrument)
• 弾じるだんじるto play (a stringed instrument)
• 白球を追うはっきゅうをおうto play (baseball, softball, etc.)
• お遊びおあそびplay
• 食らわすくらわすto make someone eat
• 演戯えんぎdrama
• うそっこdoing for fun
• 演るやるto perform
• 吹くふくto play (a wind instrument)
• 囲むかこむto play (go, shogi, etc.)
• 稼ぐかせぐto score (points, victory)
• 奏するそうするto play (musical instrument)
• 舞台ぶたいstage performance
• ふかすto put on (an air of)
• 奏すそうすto play (musical instrument)
• 食らわせるくらわせるto deal (a blow)
• がたlooseness (in machinery)
• なるto play (the part of)
• 引くひくto play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
• 取るとるto compete (in sumo, cards, etc.)
• 打つうつto do
• 流すながすto broadcast
• 指すさすto play (a game of shogi)