“Interesting” in Japanese is 面白い (おもしろい), pronounced omoshiroi.
Pronunciation
The word has 5 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Interesting or funny. A great reaction word: おもしろい！
Example sentences
- この本は面白いです。このほんはおもしろいです。This book is interesting.
- 彼は面白い人です。かれはおもしろいひとです。He’s a funny person.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 面白い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 面白い おもしろい | interesting |
| Polite present | 面白いです おもしろいです | is interesting |
| Negative | 面白くないです おもしろくないです | isn’t interesting |
| Past | 面白かったです おもしろかったです | was interesting |
| Past negative | 面白くなかったです おもしろくなかったです | wasn’t interesting |
| て-form | 面白くて おもしろくて | interesting and… |
| Adverb (く) | 面白く おもしろく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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What does {{面白い}} mean?
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Which word means “easy”?
Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say interesting in Japanese?
Interesting in Japanese is 面白い (おもしろい), pronounced “omoshiroi”.
How do you write interesting in Japanese?
It's written 面白い with kanji, or おもしろい in hiragana. Both are read omoshiroi.
Is 面白い on the JLPT?
Yes. 面白い (omoshiroi) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.