Hobbies In Japanese: 50+ Words, Phrases, And Tips [2025]

When you’re doing your jikoshoukai (自己紹介) or self-introduction in Japanese, talking about your hobbies is practically unavoidable. People will naturally ask about your 趣味 (shumi) or hobbies in Japanese when you meet new classmates, join language exchanges, or start a new job.

In this post, you will learn the most useful hobby vocabulary and simple phrases to talk about what you enjoy doing in your free time. You'll also get tips to sound natural and connect with Japanese speakers through shared interests, whether it's reading manga, playing sports, or something else you love.

What Are Your Hobbies In Japanese

The most common way to ask "What are your hobbies?" in Japanese is 趣味は何ですか？ (Shumi wa nan desu ka?). This polite question literally breaks down as "As for hobbies, what is it?" and works perfectly in formal situations like job interviews, meeting new people, or classroom settings.

• 趣味は何ですか？ (Shumi wa nan desu ka?) - "What are your hobbies?" (polite)
• 趣味は何？ (Shumi wa nani?) - "What are your hobbies?" (casual)
• ご趣味は？ (Go-shumi wa?) - "What are your hobbies?" (very polite, often used with strangers or older people)

The structure follows the pattern: [Topic] + は + [Question word] + ですか？ This makes it easy to remember and use in other contexts too.

Other Ways To Ask About Hobbies In Japanese

Beyond the basic question, Japanese speakers use several variations depending on the situation and relationship. These alternatives can make your conversations sound more natural and help you pick up on different ways people might ask you the same thing.

• 何か趣味はありますか？ (Nanika shumi wa arimasu ka?) - "Do you have any hobbies?"
• 普段何をしていますか？ (Fudan nani wo shite imasu ka?) - "What do you usually do?"
• 休みの日は何をしますか？ (Yasumi no hi wa nani wo shimasu ka?) - "What do you do on your days off?"
• 好きなことは何ですか？ (Suki na koto wa nan desu ka?) - "What do you like to do?"
• 時間があるとき、何をしますか？ (Jikan ga aru toki, nani wo shimasu ka?) - "What do you do when you have free time?"

How To Talk About Your Hobbies In Japanese

Expressing Likes

The most straightforward way to express what you like in Japanese is using 好きです (suki desu), which means "like." This versatile phrase works with any hobby or activity - just add が (ga) after the thing you like. For stronger feelings, upgrade to 大好きです (daisuki desu) to show you really love something.

Examples:

• 音楽が好きです。 (Ongaku ga suki desu.) - "I like music."
• アニメが大好きです。 (Anime ga daisuki desu.) - "I really love anime."
• 料理が好きです。 (Ryōri ga suki desu.) - "I like cooking."
• 映画を見るのが好きです。 (Eiga wo miru no ga suki desu.) - "I like watching movies."
• 本を読むのが大好きです。 (Hon wo yomu no ga daisuki desu.) - "I really love reading books."

Expressing Dislikes

To express dislikes in Japanese, use 嫌いです (kirai desu) following the same pattern as likes. Add 大嫌いです (daikirai desu) when you really can't stand something. These phrases are useful for politely declining activities or explaining what you'd rather avoid.

Examples:

• スポーツが嫌いです。 (Supōtsu ga kirai desu.) - "I dislike sports."
• 虫が大嫌いです。 (Mushi ga daikirai desu.) - "I really hate bugs."
• 早起きが嫌いです。 (Hayaoki ga kirai desu.) - "I dislike getting up early."
• 辛い食べ物が嫌いです。 (Karai tabemono ga kirai desu.) - "I dislike spicy food."
• 掃除をするのが嫌いです。 (Sōji wo suru no ga kirai desu.) - "I dislike cleaning."

Hobbies In Japanese

Fitness And Sports In Japanese

Sports culture runs deep in Japan, from the intense dedication of high school baseball teams to the disciplined world of martial arts. Many Japanese people grew up participating in school sports clubs (部活, bukatsū), which creates lifelong habits around physical activity.

Outdoor Activities In Japanese

Despite being densely populated, Japan offers incredible outdoor opportunities that many locals actively pursue. Hiking (ハイキング) is especially popular, with people regularly climbing mountains like Fuji-san or exploring scenic trails.

Skill-based Hobies In Japanese

Traditional skill-based hobbies hold special significance in Japanese culture, often taught through formal lessons called 習い事 (naraigoto). These include calligraphy (書道, shodō), tea ceremony (茶道, sadō), and flower arranging (生け花, ikebana). Today, skill-based hobbies like cooking, photography, and learning musical instruments are also getting popular.

Games And Entertainment In Japanese

Japan's entertainment scene is massive, spanning everything from video games and anime to pachinko and karaoke. Gaming culture is particularly strong here - Japan gave the world Nintendo, PlayStation, and countless iconic franchises. Many Japanese people enjoy mobile games during their commutes, while others dive deep into console gaming, tabletop games, or traditional games like shogi and go.

Other Phrases Related To Hobbies In Japanese

Time Expressions For Hobbies In Japanese

Adding time expressions to your hobby conversations makes them sound more natural and gives people a better picture of your routine. Japanese uses the particle に (ni) after most time words to show when you do activities. These expressions help you explain not just what you enjoy, but when you actually get to do it.

• 毎日 (mainichi): every day
• 週末 (しゅうまつ, shuumatsu): on weekends
• 午後に (ごごに, gogo ni): in the afternoons
• 朝に (あさに, asa ni): in the mornings
• 夜に (よるに, yoru ni): in the evenings
• 週に一回 (しゅうにいっかい, shuu ni ikkai): once a week
• 月に二回 (つきににかい, tsuki ni nikai): twice a month
• いつも (itsumo): always
• よく (yoku): often
• たいてい (taitei): usually
• 時々 (ときどき, tokidoki): sometimes
• たまに (tamani): every now and then / occasionally
• めったに〜ない (mettani~nai): rarely (used with negative)
• ぜんぜん〜ない (zenzen~nai): never (used with negative)

Levels or Types of Hobbies in Japanese

Japanese has specific terms for different categories of hobbies, which helps you sound more precise when describing your interests. Instead of just saying 趣味 (shumi) for everything, you can use these terms to show exactly what kind of activities you're into.

• Occasional hobby: たまにする趣味 (tamani suru shumi)
• Regular hobby: 定期的な趣味 (teikiteki na shumi)
• Serious hobby: 本格的な趣味 (honkakuteki na shumi)
• Professional hobby: プロ並みの趣味 (puro nami no shumi)
• Relaxing hobby: リラックスできる趣味 (rirakkusu dekiru shumi)

How To Learn Japanese Hobby Vocabulary Naturally

The best way to master hobby vocabulary is through real Japanese content where these words appear naturally. Instead of memorizing lists, watch Japanese YouTubers talking about their weekend plans, or check out Japanese anime where characters discuss their interests. You'll hear these words in context, which helps you understand not just what they mean but how Japanese people actually use them in conversation.

Japanese dramas and anime are also great for hobby vocabulary since characters often bond over shared interests or talk about their free-time activities. When you hear someone say "週末にキャンプに行きます" (I'm going camping on the weekend), you're learning the word, the grammar pattern, and the cultural context all at once. This natural exposure beats flashcards every time because you're seeing how real people connect through their hobbies.

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