“To play with” in Japanese
Short answer
To play with in Japanese is “弄ぶ” (moteasobu). Full meaning: to play with (a toy, one's hair, etc.), to fiddle with; to toy with (one's emotions, etc.), to trifle with; to do with something as one pleases.
Other ways to say “To play with” in Japanese
弄する
rousuru to play with, to joke, to use (esp. trick, sophistry, etc.); to deride, to scoff at, to make fun of
戯らす
jarasu to play with, to toy with, to tease
ひねり回す
hinerimawasu to fiddle with, to play with
弄る
ijiru to finger, to touch, to play with, to fiddle with, to toy with; to make changes to, to tinker with, to tamper with; to dabble in, to do as a hobby, to play around with
弄う
irau to touch, to finger, to play with
玩ぶ
moteasobu to play with (a toy, one's hair, etc.), to fiddle with; to toy with (one's emotions, etc.), to trifle with; to do with something as one pleases
じゃらす
jarasu to play with, to toy with, to tease
もて遊ぶ
moteasobu to play with (a toy, one's hair, etc.), to fiddle with; to toy with (one's emotions, etc.), to trifle with; to do with something as one pleases
もてあそぶ
moteasobu to play with (a toy, one's hair, etc.), to fiddle with; to toy with (one's emotions, etc.), to trifle with; to do with something as one pleases
弄す
rousu to play with, to joke, to use (esp. trick, sophistry, etc.); to deride, to scoff at, to make fun of
ひねくり回す
hinekurimawasu to twist, to twirl; to fiddle around with, to play with, to rewrite; to rack one's brains
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