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Japanese · Everyday topics · A1 to A2

Hobbies and free time: 趣味は何ですか

Short answer: to talk about hobbies, say 趣味は〜です: 趣味は読書です, “my hobby is reading”. If the hobby is an action, turn the verb into a noun with こと: 趣味は写真を撮ることです, “my hobby is taking photos”. Sports mostly use する (play/do), but instruments are 弾く (play by plucking or pressing) and pictures are 描く (draw, paint).

趣味は〜ですshumi wa … desu · my hobby is …読書dokusho · readingnoun料理ryōri · cookingnoun写真を撮ることshashin o toru koto · taking photosverb + こと音楽を聴くことongaku o kiku koto · listening to musicverb + ことA verb needs こと to become a noun first.
Dictionary form + こと is the simplest way to make any verb into a noun. You will meet it again on the nominalisation page.

Common hobbies

Nouns you can put straight into 趣味は〜です.

Sports and the verbs they take

Most sports take する. Swimming and running have their own verbs, and some activities need a specific verb.

ActivityMeaningVerb
sakkāfootballする
yakyūbaseballする
tenisutennisする
suieiswimming泳ぐ oyogu (swim)
jogingujoggingする, or 走る hashiru
pianopiano弾く hiku
epictures描く kaku
utasongs歌う utau

Asking about free time

暇な時 means “when you are free”.

A
趣味しゅみshumihobbyはwa(topic)何なんnanwhatですかdesu kais?
Shumi wa nan desu ka. · “What are your hobbies?”A standard getting-to-know-you question.
B
趣味しゅみshumihobbyはwa(topic)料理りょうりryōricookingですdesuis
Shumi wa ryōri desu. · “I like cooking.”Noun hobby: no こと needed.
A
暇な時ひまなときhima na tokiwhen free何なにnaniwhatをo(object)しますかshimasu kado?
Hima na toki, nani o shimasu ka. · “What do you do in your free time?”暇 is a な-adjective, so 暇な before 時.
B
よくyokuoften友達ともだちtomodachifriendsとtowithテニスtenisutennisをo(object)しますshimasuplay
Yoku tomodachi to tenisu o shimasu. · “I often play tennis with friends.”よく: often. と: with.

Traditional Japanese pastimes

Arts and games with long histories in Japan.

PastimeMeaningWhat it is
sadōtea ceremonythe way of tea
shodōcalligraphybrush writing
ikebanaflower arrangingthe art of flowers
shōgiJapanese chessboard game
igoGoboard game
kendōkendoJapanese fencing

How long and how often

Talking about how long you have done a hobby and how often.

ピアノpianopianoをo(object)十年じゅうねんjūnenten years習っていますならっていますnaratte imasuhave been learning
Piano o jūnen naratte imasu.“I’ve been learning piano for ten years.”Why: ている + a length of time: have been doing.
週しゅうshūweekにniper二回にかいnikaitwiceジムjimugymにnito行きますいきますikimasugo
Shū ni nikai jimu ni ikimasu.“I go to the gym twice a week.”Why: 週に〜回: times a week.
最近さいきんsaikinrecently料理りょうりryōricookingにniintoはまっていますhamatte imasuam hooked
Saikin ryōri ni hamatte imasu.“I’ve got really into cooking lately.”Why: はまる: get hooked on.

Inviting someone to join

Suggesting a hobby to do together.

A
今度こんどkondonext time一緒にいっしょにissho nitogether山やまyamamountainにnito登りませんかのぼりませんかnoborimasen kawon’t you climb?
Kondo issho ni yama ni noborimasen ka. · “Shall we go hiking together some time?”
B
いいですねii desu nesounds goodでもdemobut初心者しょしんしゃshoshinshabeginnerですdesuam
Ii desu ne. Demo, shoshinsha desu. · “Sounds good, but I’m a beginner.”
A
大丈夫だいじょうぶdaijōbuno problem簡単なかんたんなkantan naeasyコースkōsurouteにniasしましょうshimashōlet’s choose
Daijōbu. Kantan na kōsu ni shimashō. · “No problem, let’s pick an easy route.”にする: decide on.
B
楽しみたのしみtanoshimilooking forwardですdesuam
Tanoshimi desu! · “I’m looking forward to it!”

Check yourself

Say each one in Japanese, then open the answer to check and hear it.

  1. What are your hobbies?
    Show answer
    Shumi wa nan desu ka.
  2. My hobby is reading.
    Show answer
    Shumi wa dokusho desu.
  3. My hobby is taking photos.
    Show answer
    Shumi wa shashin o toru koto desu.
  4. I play tennis.
    Show answer
    Tenisu o shimasu.
  5. I play the piano.
    Show answer
    Piano o hikimasu.弾く, not する.
  6. What do you do in your free time?
    Show answer
    Hima na toki, nani o shimasu ka.

Hobbies in sentences

Combine a hobby with a frequency word.

趣味しゅみshumihobbyはwa(topic)絵えepicturesをo(object)描くかくkakudrawことkotothing (making a noun)ですdesuis
Shumi wa e o kaku koto desu.“My hobby is drawing.”Why: Verb + こと turns “draw pictures” into a noun.
週末しゅうまつshūmatsuweekendsはwa(topic)ときどきtokidokisometimes山やまyamamountainsにnito登りますのぼりますnoborimasuclimb
Shūmatsu wa tokidoki yama ni noborimasu.“At weekends I sometimes go climbing.”Why: You climb “to” a mountain: 山に登る.
ピアノpianopianoがga(object of ability)弾けますひけますhikemasucan play
Piano ga hikemasu.“I can play the piano.”Why: 弾く → 弾ける: the potential form, with が.

Related guides

Next guideAdverbsHow often: いつも, よく, ときどき.Next guideNominalisationMore on こと and の.Next guideThe potential formSaying what you can do.Next guideWanting and liking好き and したい for hobbies.