Hang out
Meaning: To spend time casually with someone, without any specific plans or activity.
'Hanging out' is the quintessential American casual social activity — it implies spending time together without a rigid agenda. It can mean watching TV together, sitting in a park, or just being in the same space. The noun form 'hangout' refers to a place where people regularly gather.
Examples
- We should hang out this weekend — I haven't seen you in a while. 这周末一起出来玩吧——好久没见了。Deberíamos quedar este fin de semana — hace tiempo que no nos vemos.今週末遊ぼうよ——しばらく会ってないし。이번 주말에 놀자——한동안 못 봤잖아.
- I'm just hanging out at home if you want to come over. 我在家里待着呢,你想过来就过来吧。Estoy en casa sin hacer nada, así que si quieres pasarte, ven.家でゴロゴロしてるから、来たかったらおいでよ。집에서 그냥 쉬고 있으니까 놀러 올래?
- The coffee shop downtown is our favorite hangout. 市区那家咖啡店是我们最爱去的地方。La cafetería del centro es nuestro sitio favorito para quedar.街のあのカフェが俺たちのいつものたまり場なんだ。시내 그 카페가 우리 단골 아지트야.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: socializing, making plans, friends
Tone: relaxed, friendly
✓ Do Say
- Want to hang out later?一会儿出来玩不?¿Quedamos luego?後で遊ばない?이따 놀래?
- We were just hanging out.我们就随便待着呢。Estábamos pasando el rato, sin más.ただぶらぶらしてたんだよ。그냥 놀고 있었어.
✗ Don't Say
- Too informal for professional invitations — say 'get together' or 'meet up' instead in work contexts在职业场合太随意了——工作上应该说'get together'或'meet up'Demasiado informal para invitaciones profesionales — di 'reunirnos' o 'quedar' en contextos laborales仕事関係の誘いにはカジュアルすぎる——ビジネスの場では「get together」や「meet up」と言うこと업무 관련 초대에는 너무 비격식적이다 — 직장에서는 'get together'나 'meet up'을 사용할 것
Origin & History
Originally meant to loiter or linger in a place (1800s). By the 1950s-60s, it evolved into meaning casual socializing, embraced by American youth culture as the default term for informal social time.
Cultural Context
Era: 1950s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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