playground
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playground
A specially designed outdoor place with equipment such as swings, slides, or climbing frames, intended for children to play.
Nach der Schule gehen die Kinder oft zusammen auf den Spielplatz im Park.
After school, the children often go together to the playground in the park.
playground
A place or situation used figuratively that is wrongly treated as a space for irresponsible, playful, or unserious actions.
Der Chef machte klar, dass die Firma kein Spielplatz für persönliche Experimente ist.
The boss made it clear that the company is not a playground for personal experiments.
'Der Spielplatz' (playground) is a compound noun made from 'das Spiel' (game/play) and 'der Platz' (place). The 's' in the middle is a linking element that connects the two words. Literally, then, it is a 'place to play'.
In unserer Nachbarschaft gibt es einen neuen Spielplatz.
There is a new playground in our neighborhood.
With 'Spielplatz' (playground), the preposition 'auf' is almost always used. To indicate direction, use the accusative ('auf den Spielplatz gehen' — to go to the playground). To describe a location, use the dative ('auf dem Spielplatz sein' — to be at/on the playground).
Lass uns am Nachmittag auf den Spielplatz gehen.
Let's go to the playground in the afternoon.
The figurative meaning is usually used critically. It expresses that a serious place or situation is wrongly being used for irresponsible behavior. It often appears in the phrase 'ist kein Spielplatz' (is not a playground).
Die Börse ist kein Spielplatz für Amateure.
The stock market is not a playground for amateurs.
children's playground
Spielplatz and Kinderspielplatz can both refer to the same place designed for children. Spielplatz is the usual general term, while Kinderspielplatz explicitly names the target group. When no particular contrast is needed, Spielplatz is usually sufficient.
Hinter der Schule gibt es einen Spielplatz mit Schaukeln und einer Rutsche.
There is a playground with swings and a slide behind the school.
Auf dem Geländeplan ist derselbe Bereich ausdrücklich als Kinderspielplatz markiert.
On the site plan, the same area is explicitly marked as a children's playground.
