How to say "Play" in Japanese

When translating "play" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 弾く and とぼける. In Japanese, 弾く (ひく (hiku)) is typically associated with "to play (a string instrument), to pluck, to strum" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used for playing stringed instruments like a guitar, piano, or violin. Not used for wind instruments. On the other hand, とぼける (とぼける (tobokeru)) maps to "to play dumb, to feign ignorance, to act innocent" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Implies deliberately pretending not to know or understand something, often to avoid responsibility or consequences, sometimes mischievously.. A literal translation of "play" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!