Onyomi: ユ, ユウ · Kunyomi: あそ.ばす, あそ.ぶ · Meanings: play
Kanji for play
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The kanji 遊 is built from two parts: the movement radical 辶, meaning “to walk” or “to go,” and 斿, which depicts a child carrying a streamer or banner fluttering in the wind. In ancient China, 斿 symbolized wandering or traveling with freedom — banners waving as a person roamed from place to place. When combined with the movement radical, the image becomes “to move about freely,” “to wander,” or “to play.” Over time, this evolved into the idea of joyful motion — playing, traveling, or enjoying oneself without a fixed goal.
遊 joins 辶 (movement) and 斿 (a flag waving in the wind) to express carefree movement — walking, exploring, or playing freely. It captures the spirit of joy, travel, and playful wandering.
Imagine yourself walking (辶) with a flag (斿) fluttering beside you, drifting wherever the wind takes you — that’s 遊, the feeling of moving freely and playing without worry.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 遊び | あそび | play, playing, game | common JLPT-N4 Noun |
| 遊園地 | ゆうえんち | amusement park | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 遊ぶ | あそぶ | to play (games, sports), to enjoy oneself, to have a good time | common JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'bu' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 遊び場 | あそびば | playground, play space | common Noun |
| 遊ばす | あそばす | to let (someone) play, to keep (someone) amused, to entertain | Godan verb with 'su' ending, Transitive verb |
| 遊び相手 | あそびあいて | playmate, playfellow | Noun |
| 遊学 | ゆうがく | studying abroad, travelling to study, traveling to study | Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 遊泳 | ゆうえい | swimming, bathing | Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 遊覧船 | ゆうらんせん | pleasure boat, sightseeing boat, tour boat, excursion boat | Noun |
| 遊牧 | ゆうぼく | nomadism | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 遊歩道 | ゆうほどう | promenade, esplanade | Noun |
| 荒む | すさむ | to grow wild, to run to waste, to become degenerate | Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 遊び友達 | あそびともだち | playmate, companion, friend to play with | Noun |
| 遊び半分 | あそびはんぶん | half in fun | Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 遊具 | ゆうぐ | play equipment, playground equipment | Noun |