Asobu is the Japanese verb for ‘to play’, explained

What does “asobu” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “asobu” to mean ‘to play’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations are would help Japanese learners use “asobu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “asobu”
  • Example #1: how to say “play” in Japanese
• Asobanai: the nai form of “asobu”
  • Example #2: how to say “not play” in Japanese
• Asobou: the volitional form of “asobu”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s play” in Japanese
• Asobimasu: the masu form of “asobu”
  • Example #4: how to say “play” politely in Japanese
• Asonda: the past tense form of “asobu”
  • Example #5: how to say “played” in Japanese
• Asonde: the te form of “asobu”
  • Example #6: how to say “play and” in Japanese
• Asobeba: the ba form of “asobu”
  • Example #7: how to say “if play” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “asobu”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “asobu”.

• asobu – 遊ぶ (あそぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to play’ in Japanese.

This verb is often translated into English as ‘to play’. I think, however, their roles are a bit different. Japanese native speakers use this verb not only when they play with toys, but also when they do something for joy. For example, they say “asobu” even when they just go out.

The definition and meaning are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “play” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : a noun meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “every day” in Japanese.
• kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kodomo” to say with whom the speaker plays every day.

This is a typical usage of “asobu”. When we want to mean ‘to play’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “asobu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “asobanai”.

Asobanai: the nai form of “asobu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “asobanai”.

• asobanai – 遊ばない (あそばない) : the nai form of “asubu”, which means ‘not to play’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “asobanai” consists of the following two parts:

• asoba – 遊ば (あそば) : one conjugation of “asobu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “asobanai” is literally the nai form of “asobu” and means ‘not to play’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not play” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “asobanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to play’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Asobou: the volitional form of “asobu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “asobou”.

• asobou – 遊ぼう (あそぼう) : the volitional form of “asobu”, which expresses volition to play.

Grammatically, “asobou” consists of the following two parts:

• asobo – 遊ぼ (あそぼ) : one conjugation of “asobu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “asobou” is literally the volitional form of “asobu” and expresses volition to play in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s play” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• suuji – 数字 (すうじ) : a noun meaning ‘number’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• de – で : a case particle used to say what means someone uses to do something. In the example, this is used after “suuji” to say what the speakers use to play.

This is a typical usage of “asobou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s play” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Asobimasu: the masu form of “asobu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “asobimasu”.

• asobimasu – 遊びます (あそびます) : the masu form of “asobu”, which means ‘to play’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “asobimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• asobi – 遊び (あそび) : one conjugation of “asobu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “asobimasu” is literally the masu form of “asobu” and means ‘to play’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “play” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• seito – 生徒 (せいと) : a noun meaning ‘student’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• nihongo – 日本語 (にほんご) : a noun meaning ‘Japanese’ or ‘the Japanese language’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle joining two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this works to join “nihongo” and “kotoba”. The formed phrase literally means ‘Japanese words’ in Japanese.
• kotoba – 言葉 (ことば) : a noun meaning ‘word’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “asobimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “play” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Asonda: the past tense form of “asobu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “asonda”.

• asonda – 遊んだ (あそんだ) : the past tense form of “asobu”, which means ‘played’, ‘have played’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “asonda” consists of the following two parts:

• ason – 遊ん (あそん) : one conjugation of “asobu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
• da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “asonda” is literally the past tense form of “asobu” and means ‘played’, ‘have played’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “played” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to say “today” in Japanese.
• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “asonda”. When we want to use the past tense form of “asobu”, this form is the best option.

Asonde: the te form of “asobu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “asonde”.

• asonde – 遊んで (あそんで) : the te form of “asobu”, which means ‘to play’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “asonde” consists of the following two parts:

• ason – 遊ん (あそん) : one conjugation of “asobu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
• de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “asonde” is literally the te form of “asobu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “asonde” is very useful when we want to use “asobu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “play and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• koneko – 子猫 (こねこ) : a noun meaning ‘kitten’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• neru – 寝る (ねる) : a verb meaning ‘to sleep’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “asonde”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “neru”. When we want to use “asobu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Asobeba: the ba form of “asobu”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “asobeba”.

• asobeba – 遊べば (あそべば) : the ba form of “asobu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to play’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “asobeba” consists of the following two parts:

• asobe – 遊べ (あそべ) : one conjugation of “asobu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “asobeba” is literally the ba form of “asobu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “asobeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to play’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if play” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• hi – 火 (ひ) : a noun meaning ‘fire’ in Japanese.
• yakedo suru – 火傷する (やけどする) : a verb meaning ‘to get burned’ in Japanese.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or speaker’s idea softly. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the fact.

This is a typical usage of “asobeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “hi de asobeba”, which means ‘if you play with fire’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to play’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “asobu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• asobu – 遊ぶ (あそぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to play’ in Japanese.
• asobanai – 遊ばない (あそばない) : the nai form of “asubu”, which means ‘not to play’ in Japanese.
• asobou – 遊ぼう (あそぼう) : the volitional form of “asobu”, which expresses volition to play.
• asobimasu – 遊びます (あそびます) : the masu form of “asobu”, which means ‘to play’ politely in Japanese.
• asonda – 遊んだ (あそんだ) : the past tense form of “asobu”, which means ‘played’, ‘have played’, or such in Japanese.
• asonde – 遊んで (あそんで) : the te form of “asobu”, which means ‘to play’ in Japanese. When we want to use “asobu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• asobeba – 遊べば (あそべば) : the ba form of “asobu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to play’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.