child's play / children's game
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child's play
A task or activity that is perceived as very easy and effortless to manage.
Mit der neuen Software ist die Videobearbeitung ein echtes Kinderspiel geworden.
With the new software, video editing has become real child's play.
The word is made up of 'Kinder' (children, plural of 'Kind') and 'Spiel' (game/play). The figurative meaning 'easy task' derives from the literal meaning 'game for children', since such games are usually very easy for adults.
Für einen Profi ist diese Reparatur ein Kinderspiel.
For a professional, this repair is child's play.
You can tell from the context whether the literal or figurative meaning is intended. If it is about a task or a problem, it is the figurative meaning. The plural form 'Kinderspiele' almost always refers to actual games.
Die Prüfung war ein Kinderspiel. (einfache Aufgabe)
The exam was child's play. (easy task)
In the figurative meaning, 'Kinderspiel' (child's play) is very often used with the verb 'sein' (to be) to express that something is easy. The structure is then: [Something] ist (k)ein Kinderspiel ([Something] is/isn't child's play).
Dank der Anleitung war die Montage des Regals ein Kinderspiel.
Thanks to the instructions, assembling the shelf was child's play.
game / play
'das Spiel' and 'das Kinderspiel' can both mean an activity with rules. 'das Spiel' is the general term and works for children, adults, board games, card games, or other games. 'das Kinderspiel' means either a game for children or, in a figurative sense, a very easy task. This can make it confusing: not every game is a children's game. If you are just talking generally about a game activity, 'Spiel' is usually more natural. 'Kinderspiel' fits when it is really about children or when something is very easy.
Für Mehmet ist diese Aufgabe ein Kinderspiel, weil er sie schon oft geübt hat.
For Mehmet, this task is child's play because he has practiced it many times.
Nach dem Essen spielen wir ein neues Spiel mit einfachen Regeln.
After dinner, we play a new game with simple rules.