wun6 saa2玩耍
Jyutpingwun6 saa2
Yalewuhn sá
Definition
To play or amuse oneself.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While 玩耍 is understood by all Cantonese speakers, it sounds slightly more formal or literary than the everyday 玩. In casual conversation, locals almost exclusively use 玩 to cover all senses of playing, whether it is children playing games, adults hanging out, or going on a trip. Using 玩耍 can sometimes sound like you are reading from a textbook or speaking in a slightly more descriptive, written style.
Examples
Kids love playing in the park the most.
Where do you guys go to hang out on your days off?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 玩耍 in situations where it sounds unnatural, such as when talking about hanging out with friends or going out for the evening. In those contexts, stick to 玩 to sound like a native speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
