gimmick / child's play
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gimmick
An activity or object that is not meant seriously or has little practical use and mainly serves amusement or entertainment. The term is often used in a slightly derogatory way.
Die animierten Emojis sind eine nette Spielerei, aber für die eigentliche Kommunikation unnötig.
The animated emojis are a nice gimmick, but unnecessary for the actual communication.
The word is derived from the verb 'spielen' (to play) with the ending '-erei'. This ending often expresses an activity that is considered not entirely serious, unnecessary, or even somewhat negative.
Hör mit der Spielerei auf und konzentriere dich auf die Arbeit!
Stop messing around and concentrate on the work!
The meaning depends on the context: If the word refers to an object or a feature, it means something unnecessary (meaning 1). If it refers to a task, it means something very easy (meaning 2).
Das leuchtende Logo am Laptop ist eine reine Spielerei.
The glowing logo on the laptop is just a gimmick.
In this meaning, 'Spielerei' (gimmick) has a slightly derogatory or condescending connotation. It signals that something may be nice, but is not really useful or important.
Er hält die meisten Funktionen seines neuen Handys für überflüssige Spielereien.
He considers most of the features on his new phone to be unnecessary gimmicks.
In the meaning of 'easy task', the word is very often used in the fixed phrase 'eine reine Spielerei' (pure child's play) or 'eine bloße Spielerei' (mere child's play).
Die Reparatur war für die Expertin eine reine Spielerei.
The repair was pure child's play for the expert.
toy
'das Spielzeug' and 'die Spielerei' can both have to do with fun and playing. However, 'Spielzeug' means a real object made for playing, especially for children. 'Spielerei' is more likely to mean something that is not very serious or not very useful. This can be an activity or an object. 'Spielerei' often sounds slightly critical. In addition, 'Spielerei' can mean that a task is very easy. Learners may confuse the words because of 'Spiel-'. For dolls, cars, or building blocks, you say 'Spielzeug'; for something unnecessary, playful, or very easy, 'Spielerei' is more appropriate.
Die neue Funktion am Handy ist nett, aber für mich nur eine Spielerei.
The new feature on the phone is nice, but for me it is just a gimmick.
Sie nimmt das Spielzeug mit ins Wohnzimmer, damit ihr Sohn dort spielen kann.
She takes the toy into the living room so that her son can play there.