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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.

おんがくを? おんがくが? — ongaku o? ongaku ga?

  1. Yuki マイクさん、しゅみは なんですか? Mike, what are your hobbies?
  2. Mike えいがが すきです。そして おんがくを すきです。 I like movies. And I like music. (slip: "suki" takes "ga", not "o" → ongaku ga suki desu)
  3. Yuki 「おんがくが すきです」です:「すき」は「が」を つかいます。「を」では ありません。 It is "ongaku ga suki desu": "suki" uses "ga", not "o".
  4. Mike あ、おんがくが すきです。そして およぐ のが すきです。 Ah, I like music. And I like swimming.

スポーツが すきですか? — Do you like sport?

  1. Yuki マイクさん、スポーツが すきですか? Mike, do you like sport?
  2. Mike はい、サッカーが だいすきです。ユキさんは? Yes, I love football. And you, Yuki?
  3. Yuki わたしは うたと えいがが すきです。 I like songs and films.
  4. Mike いいですね。こんど いっしょに えいがを みます。 Nice. Let's watch a film together next time.
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
しゅみ shumi n. hobby
おんがく ongaku n. music
えいが eiga n. movie, film
スポーツ supōtsu n. sport
すき suki adj. liked, favourite (na-adj)
きらい kirai adj. disliked (na-adj)
およぐ oyogu v. to swim (→ oyogimasu)
うた uta n. song
ひま hima adj. free, not busy (na-adj)
だいすき daisuki adj. love, really like (na-adj)

すきな こと:「〜が すきです」 What you like: "~ga suki desu"

すきな ものを いう ときは「〜が すきです」を つかいます。「すき」は けいようしなので、すきな ものには じょし「が」を つけます:おんがくが すきです、スポーツが すきです。とても すきな ときは「だいすきです」、すきじゃ ない ときは「きらいです」。どうしを すきと いう ときは、どうしに「の」を つけて めいしに します:およぐ のが すきです、うたを うたう のが すきです。えいごでは「like」の あとに もくてきごが くるので、えいごを はなす ひとは「を」を つかって「おんがくを すきです」と いいますが、ただしくは「おんがくが すきです」です。

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".

  • わたしは おんがくが すきです。 Watashi wa ongaku ga suki desu. I like music.
  • スポーツが すきですか? Supōtsu ga suki desu ka? Do you like sport?
  • わたしは およぐ のが すきです。 Watashi wa oyogu no ga suki desu. I like swimming.
  • にほんの えいがが だいすきです。 Nihon no eiga ga daisuki desu. I love Japanese films.

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.

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