玩耍 (wán shuǎ) — to play, to amuse oneself (especially of children)

Definition

玩耍 (wánshuǎ) means simple, childlike play — carefree fun, usually outdoors or with others. More casual than 游玩 (which implies travel/sightseeing); 耍 alone leans toward showing off or wielding.

verb
to playto amuse oneself (especially of children)

Examples

  • 玩耍
    Hái zi men zài shā tān shàng wán shuǎ.
    The children are playing on the beach.
  • 玩耍
    Zhōu mò wǒ men dài xiǎo gǒu qù cǎo dì shàng wán shuǎ.
    On weekends we take the puppy to play on the grass.
  • 玩耍
    Xiǎo shí hou wǒ cháng hé lín jū jiā de hái zi yì qǐ wán shuǎ.
    When I was little, I often played with the neighbor's children.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

玩 “play” and 耍 “play” combine to mean amuse oneself.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
jade
Sound part声符shēngfú
yuánwán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

玩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 元 (yuán) for sound. The jade part points to toys made of jade.

Open 玩 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 耍 →

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