Bookverse
English
Bookverse - Get started

Japanese · JLPT Band 1 (N5) · Chapter 27

しゅみと すきな ことHobbies and likes

Shumi to suki na koto

Hobby words: shumi, ongaku, eiga, supootsu, suki, kirai, oyogu, uta, hima, daisuki. The key grammar is "~ga suki desu". The thing you like takes the particle "ga": ongaku ga suki desu. A verb takes "no": oyogu no ga suki desu. English speakers use "o" and say "ongaku o suki desu" — the correct form is "ongaku ga suki desu". Kana corner: pronouncing "ga" and "suki". Culture corner: free time in Japan.

Help improve this content. If something looks off,let us know →

Dialogue

i

Study this section in the Bookverse app

  • Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
  • Practice tasks with pass tracking
  • A teacher on every study screen
  • Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
  • Audio playback for dialogues and words
  • Speaking practice with feedback
  • Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app

You will be asked to register first.

Study

おんがくを? おんがくが?— ongaku o? ongaku ga?

  1. YukiマMaイiクkuさsaんn、しゅshuみmiはwaなnaんnでdeすsuかka？Mike, what are your hobbies?
  2. MikeえEいiがgaがgaすsuきkiでdeすsu。そSoしshiてteおoんnがgaくkuをoすsuきkiでdeすsu。I like movies. And I like music. (slip: "suki" takes "ga", not "o" → ongaku ga suki desu)
  3. Yuki「おOんnがgaくkuがgaすsuきkiでdeすsu」でdeすsu:「すsuきki」はwa「がga」をoつtsuかkaいiまmaすsu。「をO」でdeはwaあaりriまmaせseんn。It is "ongaku ga suki desu": "suki" uses "ga", not "o".
  4. MikeあA、おoんnがgaくkuがgaすsuきkiでdeすsu。そSoしshiてteおoよyoぐguのnoがgaすsuきkiでdeすsu。Ah, I like music. And I like swimming.

Dialogue

i

Study this section in the Bookverse app

  • Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
  • Practice tasks with pass tracking
  • A teacher on every study screen
  • Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
  • Audio playback for dialogues and words
  • Speaking practice with feedback
  • Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app

You will be asked to register first.

Study

スポーツが すきですか？— Do you like sport?

  1. YukiマMaイiクkuさsaんn、スsuポーpōツtsuがgaすsuきkiでdeすsuかka？Mike, do you like sport?
  2. MikeはHaいi、サsaッkカーkāがgaだdaいiすsuきkiでdeすsu。ユYuキkiさsaんnはwa？Yes, I love football. And you, Yuki?
  3. YukiわWaたtaしshiはwaうuたtaとtoえeいiがgaがgaすsuきkiでdeすsu。I like songs and films.
  4. MikeいIいiでdeすsuねne。こKoんnどdoいiっsしょshoにniえeいiがgaをoみmiまmaすsu。Nice. Let's watch a film together next time.

Vocabulary

i

Study this section in the Bookverse app

  • Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
  • Practice tasks with pass tracking
  • A teacher on every study screen
  • Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
  • Audio playback for dialogues and words
  • Speaking practice with feedback
  • Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app

You will be asked to register first.

Study
しゅshuみmi

nounhobby

おoんnがgaくku

nounmusic

えeいiがga

nounmovie, film

スsuポーpōツtsu

nounsport

すsuきki

adjectiveliked, favourite (na-adj)

きkiらraいi

adjectivedisliked (na-adj)

おoよyoぐgu

verbto swim (→ oyogimasu)

うuたta

nounsong

ひhiまma

adjectivefree, not busy (na-adj)

だdaいiすsuきki

adjectivelove, really like (na-adj)

Grammar

i

Study this section in the Bookverse app

  • Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
  • Practice tasks with pass tracking
  • A teacher on every study screen
  • Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
  • Audio playback for dialogues and words
  • Speaking practice with feedback
  • Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app

You will be asked to register first.

Study

What you like: "~ga suki desu"

Explanation

To say what you like, use "~ga suki desu". "Suki" is an adjective, so the thing you like takes the particle "ga": ongaku ga suki desu, supootsu ga suki desu. When you really like it, "daisuki desu"; when you dislike it, "kirai desu". To say you like doing something, add "no" to the verb to make it a noun: oyogu no ga suki desu, uta o utau no ga suki desu. In English an object follows "like", so English speakers use "o" and say "ongaku o suki desu" — but the correct form is "ongaku ga suki desu".

Examples

  • わたしは おんがくが すきです。I like music.
  • スSuポーpōツtsuがgaすsuきkiでdeすsuかka？Do you like sport?
  • わたしは およぐ のが すきです。I like swimming.
  • にほんの えいがが だいすきです。I love Japanese films.

Culture

i

Study this section in the Bookverse app

  • Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
  • Practice tasks with pass tracking
  • A teacher on every study screen
  • Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
  • Audio playback for dialogues and words
  • Speaking practice with feedback
  • Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app

You will be asked to register first.

Study

にほんの じゆうじかんFree time in Japan

In Japan, talking about hobbies is very common, and people often chat about them even with someone they have just met. "Shumi wa nan desu ka" (what are your hobbies?) is a standard question. Being able to name one thing you like helps you quickly get on with the other person.

Hobbies and groups

Schools and companies have many "bukatsu" (clubs) and "circles". People enjoy them together with their group — sport, music, manga, tea ceremony and more. Many adults also attend "naraigoto" (lessons) such as the gym, English conversation or cooking classes. Both solo hobbies and hobbies done with others are valued.

Karaoke and going out

When hanging out with friends, karaoke is popular. You rent a room and sing the songs you like. After work, a "nomikai" (drinking gathering), chatting at an izakaya, is also common. The bill is often "warikan", that is, split among everyone. If someone asks "What do you do when you have time?", try answering with something you like.

Nature and the seasons

Free time in Japan is deeply tied to the seasons. In spring there is "ohanami", eating and drinking under the cherry blossoms. In autumn people go out to see the red leaves (momiji). In winter hot springs (onsen) are popular. Hiking and walks are also close-to-home hobbies for enjoying nature. Talk of the seasons comes up about as often as talk of hobbies.

In Japanese free time, "who you enjoy it with" often matters more than "what you do". If you can name one thing you like in Japanese, that becomes your first step towards a new friend.

Kana

i

Study this section in the Bookverse app

  • Spaced repetition schedules your reviews
  • Practice tasks with pass tracking
  • A teacher on every study screen
  • Progress saved across chapters and devices — laptop and phone
  • Audio playback for dialogues and words
  • Speaking practice with feedback
  • Search dictionaries and chat with AI, all inside the app

You will be asked to register first.

Study

すきな ことばと「が」— Like-words and "ga"

Read the sentences in hiragana:

  • おんがくが すきですongaku ga suki desuI like music
  • スポーツが すきですかsupōtsu ga suki desu kaDo you like sport?
  • およぐ のが すきですoyogu no ga suki desuI like swimming
  • えいがが だいすきですeiga ga daisuki desuI love movies

Want to actually learn this — with audio, spaced repetition and progress tracking?

Study in the app →

Report an issue

Spotted an error or have a suggestion? Every report helps us improve this content.