you can say: 如果是'他半开玩笑地弄了她，你可以说：he played a prank on her // he played a practical joke on her // he played a trick on her 那个孩子喜欢搞恶作剧 that child is always up to mischief // that child always plays pranks on people 孩子们在搞恶作剧可以翻译作 The children are up to mischief // The children are playing a practical joke on someone（on someone 强调着某人成为受恶作剧的对象）

trick is fine

I'd say "a pratical joke".