- Hobby is しゅみ. しゅみは〜です = My hobby is ~.
- Ask: しゅみはなんですか (What are your hobbies?).
- With a verb, add こと: しゅみはえいがをみることです (watching films).
- Or simply: 〜がすきです (I like ~).
Asking and answering
- しゅみはなんですかshumi wa nan desu kaWhat are your hobbies?
- ひまなときはなにをしますかhima na toki wa nani o shimasu kaWhat do you do in your free time?
- しゅみはりょこうですshumi wa ryokō desuMy hobby is travelling.
- しゅみはえいがをみることですshumi wa eiga o miru koto desuMy hobby is watching films.
- ゲームがすきですgēmu ga suki desuI like games.
Hobby vocabulary
- どくしょdokushoreading
- おんがくongakumusic
- えいがeigafilms, movies
- りょうりryōricooking
- りょこうryokōtravel
- しゃしんshashinphotography
- ゲームgēmugames
- アニメanimeanime
- まんがmangamanga
- スポーツsupōtsusports
- サッカーsakkāfootball (soccer)
- ジョギングjogingujogging
- やきゅうyakyūbaseball
- カラオケkaraokekaraoke
- つりtsurifishing
- ダンスdansudance
Playing sports and instruments
| Activity | Japanese | Note |
|---|---|---|
| play football | サッカーをする | most sports use する |
| play the piano | ピアノをひく | string/keyboard instruments: ひく |
| play the flute | フルートをふく | wind instruments: ふく |
| sing | うたう | |
| draw / paint | えをかく |
Keep the conversation going
- どんなおんがくがすきですかdonna ongaku ga suki desu kaWhat kind of music do you like?
- わたしもです！watashi mo desu!Me too!
- いっしょにいきませんかissho ni ikimasen kaShall we go together?
- どのくらいやっていますかdono kurai yatte imasu kaHow long have you been doing it?
Hobbies are a great part of your self-introduction.
How often you do it
- しゅうにかい、ジムにいきますshū ni kai, jimu ni ikimasuI go to the gym twice a week.
- まいあさ、はしっていますmaiasa, hashitte imasuI run every morning.
- しゅうまつはよくえいがをみますshūmatsu wa yoku eiga o mimasuI often watch films at the weekend.
- さいきん、ギターをはじめましたsaikin, gitā o hajimemashitaI recently started playing the guitar.
〜に〜かい means … times per …: つきにいっかい is once a month. Counters like かい are in Japanese counters.
Saying how good you are
- りょうりがとくいですryōri ga tokui desuI’m good at cooking.とくい: something you’re good at (about yourself).
- うたがにがてですuta ga nigate desuI’m not good at singing.
- えがじょうずですねe ga jōzu desu neYou’re good at drawing!じょうず: praise for others.
- まだへたですmada heta desuI’m still bad at it.
Popular hobbies in Japan
Karaoke, baseball, manga, games and travel are hugely popular in Japan. Many people also enjoy traditional arts like しょどう (calligraphy), さどう (tea ceremony) or いけばな (flower arranging), and club activities (ぶかつ) shape school life. Asking about these is a great way to start a conversation with Japanese friends.
“What are your hobbies?”
“Play the piano”:
“Me too!”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say hobby in Japanese?
Hobby is 趣味 (shumi). Say 趣味は〜です (shumi wa … desu) to tell someone your hobby.
How do you ask about hobbies in Japanese?
Ask 趣味は何ですか (shumi wa nan desu ka), 'What are your hobbies?', or 暇な時は何をしますか, 'What do you do in your free time?'.
How do you say 'my hobby is reading' in Japanese?
Say 趣味は読書です (shumi wa dokusho desu) or 趣味は本を読むことです (shumi wa hon o yomu koto desu).
How do you say I'm good at something in Japanese?
About yourself, say 〜が得意です (… ga tokui desu). To praise someone else, say 〜が上手ですね (… ga jōzu desu ne).