놀다 is not the same as "play" in English! Both "to play" and

"to hang out" are the same word in Korean, but are different in English.

"Play" is more often used for:

-The children are playing with their toys (아이들이 장난감을 가지고 놀고 있습니다.)

-I'm playing games (게임을 하고 있어요)

-I'm playing a movie (playing means "starting" here. It is the action of pressing "play" on a remote to start a movie: 영화를 시작하기 위해 리모콘의 "PLAY"를 눌렀습니다.)

-I'm playing around (농단이에요)

-Did you play her?! (used as "cheating" 그녀를 속였나요?)


"To hang out" is used for when adults make plans to meet up with a friend or when you want to relax somewhere quiet and comfortable.

-Let's hang out at a coffee shop today (커피 샵에서 오늘 놀아요.)

-I don't want to go to the club, I just want to hang out at home. (클럽에 가고 싶지 않고, 집에서 놀고 싶어요.)

Please be careful not to say "I want to play with you at home" to your friends because that is a very sexual sentence! 😬