玩具 (wán jù) means 'toy' — an object designed for play, especially by children. The first character 玩 (wán) means 'to play' or 'to have fun', and the second character 具 (jù) means 'tool', 'instrument', or 'article'. Together, they literally mean 'a tool for playing', highlighting the functional and joyful purpose of toys in Chinese culture. Toys can be simple (like a wooden top) or complex (like electronic robots), but the word always implies something intended for amusement or learning through play.

This noun is commonly used in everyday contexts: shopping for gifts, describing childhood memories, discussing child development, or talking about hobbies like model-building or collecting vintage toys. It’s neutral in register — appropriate in both casual speech and formal writing — and often appears with measure words like 个 (gè) or 件 (jiàn). While usually referring to physical objects, it may occasionally be used metaphorically (e.g., calling a gadget a 'toy' for adults), though this is less common than in English.