I wouldn't call 遊ぶ more childish. I'm only saying that you won't hear adults saying to each other 遊ぼう or 遊びましょう too often. If I were to invite another adult to go play softball or a video game, I would definitely say しましょう. (the base verb is する). It's completely wrong to say ソフトボールを遊ぶ or ビデオゲームを遊ぶ. That is why we don't use 遊ぶ when we omit the object. We say ソフトボールをする or ゲームをする. You will also hear やろう or　やりましょう. I will never use the verb 遊ぶ in these cases.

Children use the word 遊ぶ more often because they live to play. They ask each other in school 「今日遊べる？」, meaning "Can we play together after school today?" In this case, 遊ぶ only means "to hang around with someone". You don't have to know exactly what you want to do at the time you ask someone, 「今日遊べる？」. Kids play by ear once they gather in the park.

Adults are different. If I asked a lady collegue, 「今日遊べる？」around 4:00 pm, I'll get a slap or a choice word......most likely both. I could get sued if I were in North America for saying it.



　

　

Thanks again~ Now I know how to reply if someone asks me 「遊べる？」... instead of replying him innocently、I will slap him instead ;) (just joking)

Yes I know する、like 仕事をする、ゲーム-をする..... etc etc
but in what case can I use やる instead? (I know やりましょう = Let's do it)

Good question.

As a female, you need to be careful with やる and やりましょう for two reasons.

1. It's basically, if not entirely, masculine speech. You can use the verb once in a while. But PLEASE don't use it repeatedly without an object to precede. You won't look too good if you do.

2. One meaning of やる is ..... no, I'm too shy to say the four-letter word. You will hear a beep if it was said on TV.　:o

Whenever possible, choose する over やる. But even with する, don't use it repeatedly without an object (仕事を、宿題を、ゲームを, etc.) because it can also mean the same four-letter word only in a softer way.

Or stabbed? Sorry, I had to bring it up. :p

Excellent! Around 0:33, it explains what we are just talking about.

I hope you weren't watching that with anyone around you! I can because no one within at least a mile radius of here can speak Japanese. :D

Are there any other words, that from an English standpoint would be ok, but when translated literally into Japanese one would get a less than desirable response?