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(あそ)ぶ。
To play with toys.
子供(こども)におもちゃを買(か)ってあげた。
I bought a toy for the child.
おもちゃを片付(かたづ)けないとご飯(はん)を食(た)べられないよ。
If you don't put away your toys, you can't eat dinner.
子供(こども)はすぐに新(あたら)しいおもちゃに飽(あ)きて、また別(べつ)のものをほしがる。
Children quickly get bored of new toys and want something else again.
子供(こども)が小(ちい)さい頃(ころ)に遊(あそ)んでいたおもちゃを捨(す)てられなくて、今(いま)でも大切(たいせつ)に取(と)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(がんぐ) exists but sounds formal and is mainly used in written contexts.

ETYMOLOGY:
From お持(も)ち遊(あそ)び (something held for play), shortened over time.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • おもちゃで遊(あそ)ぶ: to play with toys
  • おもちゃを片付(かたづ)ける: to put away toys
  • おもちゃを買(か)う: to buy toys
  • おもちゃ屋(や): toy store
  • おもちゃ箱(ばこ): toy box

FIGURATIVE USE:
Can refer to something treated carelessly or not taken seriously: 人(ひと)をおもちゃにする (to toy with someone).

RELATED WORDS:

  • 人形(にんぎょう): doll
  • ぬいぐるみ: stuffed animal
  • ゲーム: (video) game
core
Added 2026.1.8 12:55 · Revised 2026.3.9 20:07
01000/01334_omocha