70107
So I know that commonly people say 「ゲームをする」or 「NOUNで遊ぶ」 yet on the Japanese
playstation website, I see 「ゲームを遊ぶ」written, even though the verb is
intransitive. Are they both correct or is it sorta like an Incorrect usage but
commonly understood, like some english phrases?
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2019-08-15T04:42:41.870
70105
2019-08-15T05:14:50.100
34616
question
grammar word-choice
Can one say [ゲームを遊ぶ ]?
I think ゲームを遊ぶ and ゲームで遊ぶ are both perfectly correct. Although some
dictionaries say 遊ぶ is only intransitive, you can find some transitive usages
of 遊ぶ on BCCWJ, including:

  * ゲームを遊ぶ
  * マリオを遊ぶ
  * 月を愛で歌を詠み、御座の間などでも花を遊ぶ
  * 何を遊ぶかということではなくて、どのように遊ぶか
  * 渋谷の夜を遊ぶ
  * ホノルルを遊ぶ (although this を may be taken as [a location marker](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/3243/5010))

The difference is usually subtle and unimportant, but ゲームを遊ぶ sounds like ゲーム
is the main purpose, whereas ゲームで遊ぶ sounds like ゲーム is just a method to have
fun. The following article intentionally distinguishes ゲームを遊ぶ and ゲームで遊ぶ:

  * [｢ニンテンドースイッチ｣レビュー：”ゲームを遊ぶ”と”ゲームで遊ぶ”。2種類の遊び方をスイッチできるゲームハードの究極進化系](https://www.gizmodo.jp/2017/03/nintendo-switch-review.html)
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2019-08-15T05:14:50.100
70107
2019-08-15T05:14:50.100
5010
70105
answer