おもちゃ
おもちゃ
noun
toy; plaything
1.
toy; plaything
An object for children to play with.
おもちゃで遊ぶ。
To play with toys.
子供におもちゃを買ってあげた。
I bought a toy for the child.
おもちゃを片付けないとご飯を食べられないよ。
If you don't put away your toys, you can't eat dinner.
子供はすぐに新しいおもちゃに飽きて、また別のものをほしがる。
Children quickly get bored of new toys and want something else again.
子供が小さい頃に遊んでいたおもちゃを捨てられなくて、今でも大切に取っておいてある。
I can't bring myself to throw away the toys my child played with when they were small, so I still keep them carefully.
おもちゃ is typically written in hiragana. The kanji form 玩具 exists but sounds formal and is mainly used in written contexts.
ETYMOLOGY:
From お持ち遊び (something held for play), shortened over time.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- おもちゃで遊ぶ: to play with toys
- おもちゃを片付ける: to put away toys
- おもちゃを買う: to buy toys
- おもちゃ屋: toy store
- おもちゃ箱: toy box
FIGURATIVE USE:
Can refer to something treated carelessly or not taken seriously: 人をおもちゃにする (to toy with someone).
RELATED WORDS:
- 人形: doll
- ぬいぐるみ: stuffed animal
- ゲーム: (video) game