弄ぶ
もてあそぶ
godan verb
to toy with, to trifle with; to fiddle with
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 弄ぶ | 弄ばない |
| Present polite | 弄びます | 弄びません |
| Past | 弄んだ | 弄ばなかった |
| Past polite | 弄びました | 弄びませんでした |
| て form | 弄んで | 弄ばなくて |
| ている present | 弄んでいる | 弄んでいない |
| ている polite | 弄んでいます | 弄んでいません |
| ている past | 弄んでいた | 弄んでいなかった |
| ている past polite | 弄んでいました | 弄んでいませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 弄べば | 弄ばなければ |
| Conditional たら | 弄んだら | 弄ばなかったら |
| Volitional | 弄ぼう | — |
| Volitional polite | 弄びましょう | — |
| Potential | 弄べる | 弄べない |
| Passive | 弄ばれる | 弄ばれない |
| Causative | 弄ばせる | 弄ばせない |
| Imperative | 弄べ | 弄ぶな |
1.
to toy with, to trifle with, to play with someone's feelings
To treat someone or something carelessly or disrespectfully, especially toying with a person's emotions or treating something serious in a frivolous manner.
人の気持ちを弄ぶな。
Don't toy with people's feelings.
彼は彼女の感情を弄んでいた。
He was toying with her emotions.
命を弄ぶような行為は許されない。
Actions that trifle with life are unforgivable.
2.
to fiddle with, to play with, to handle idly
To handle or touch something absent-mindedly or without a clear purpose, turning it over in one's hands.
ペンを弄んでいた。
I was fiddling with a pen.
彼は髪を弄びながら考え込んでいた。
He was lost in thought while playing with his hair.
猫が毛糸の玉を弄んでいる。
The cat is playing with a ball of yarn.
USAGE:
Godan verb conjugating as 弄ぶ・弄んで. Also commonly written in kana as もてあそぶ. Sense 1 (toying with emotions) carries a strongly negative connotation, while sense 2 (fiddling with objects) is more neutral. The kanji 弄 is relatively uncommon, so kana writing is frequent.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 感情を弄ぶ: toy with someone's emotions
- 命を弄ぶ: trifle with life
- 運命に弄ばれる: be at the mercy of fate (passive)