1.
playfulness; sense of fun; playful spirit
A lighthearted, creative attitude that adds an element of fun or whimsy to something. Often used positively to describe designs, creations, or approaches that incorporate a touch of humor or unconventional charm.
遊び心のあるデザインだ。
It's a design with a playful touch.
料理にも遊び心を取り入れたい。
I want to incorporate a sense of fun into my cooking too.
仕事ばかりではなく、遊び心を忘れないことが大切だ。
It's important not to forget a sense of playfulness, not just focus on work.
A compound of 遊び (play, fun) and 心 (heart, spirit), with rendaku changing こころ to ごころ.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 遊び心がある (to have a playful spirit)
- 遊び心を忘れない (to not forget one's sense of fun)
- 遊び心を取り入れる (to incorporate playfulness)
- 遊び心満載 (full of playfulness)
A positive, approving term. Used frequently when praising creative work, design, architecture, fashion, or cuisine that goes beyond the purely functional to include an element of delight or surprise. The ～心 suffix pattern also appears in words like 親心 (parental love) and 乙女心 (maiden's heart).