Comments on: Can You Really Play in Japanese?

By: Japanese words

Japanese words — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:35:43 +0000

Yeah, this is a difficult one going both ways. Since play also works for instruments in English.

By: Pasqual

Pasqual — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:05:36 +0000

I've also heard 遊び being used as a phrase when parting from friends. Someone said to me 「今度遊びに来てね。」This was being said kind of like "See yah around," cause I never saw the person again. =P

Anyway nice post.

By: Blue Shoe

Blue Shoe — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:39:33 +0000

Or ひく for piano or guitar.

By: Nyan

Nyan — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:47:48 +0000

In Indonesian language we use the word "main" (pr. mah-een) or "bermain" (pr. ber-mah-een) with a wide range of meaning, be it "to visit a friend" or "to go out and have a good time" even "to play a game/musical instrument"… that's very similar to the use of 遊ぶ in general. Nice.

By: DumbOtaku

DumbOtaku — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:07:52 +0000

That is why I didn't want to touch that yet. I think I have it down but not confident enough to post on it yet.

By: Marfil

Marfil — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:04:27 +0000

The meaning of "play an instrument" is also more complex in Japanese, according to the instrument you would need to use different verbs:

– For wind instruments: ふく
– For stringed instrumen: だんじる