🇬🇧🇨🇳 play - 玩 : English Lesson

Meaning of "play" ("玩"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

To do something fun, like a game, sport, or pretend activity, just because you enjoy it, not because you have to; you can play alone or with others, and you usually laugh, move around, or use your imagination.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

At recess, we play a game called “The Floor Is Homework,” and nobody dares to touch it.

My brother said he would play quietly, then invented a game called “How Loud Can This Be?”

I wanted to play video games, but my mom said we would play “Find the Floor Under All These Toys” first.

Grandpa said he would play tag with us, then pretended his knees were on “vacation” and walked in slow motion.

Children all around the world love to play, and even baby animals play too—tiger cubs wrestle, dolphins chase each other, and puppies play tug-of-war to practice the skills they’ll need when they grow up.

A boy picks up a red ball. He runs to the park and calls his dog. They play in the sun. The boy and dog play catch and play with a stick. A girl joins and they play together. The boy laughs and hugs the dog. They stop and smile, happy after play.

Learn the meaning of play with our educational learning resources. Download a colorful poster, print engaging games, and enjoy an easy story where the word play appears in context. 👍

This word is featured in some playlists to help boost your English vocabulary! Check out where “play” (玩) makes an appearance and dive into themed playlists that make learning fun. 👍

This word is at the A1 level, which means it is one of the first words you learn when starting English. It’s commonly used in everyday conversations and helps you communicate basic ideas like greetings, family, or daily activities.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.