Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 1
趣味は〜ですshumi wa ~ desu
stating a hobby
Use 「趣味は〜です」 to name your hobby, and 「趣味は何ですか」 to ask about someone else’s.
How it works

When you meet a new friend, you can introduce your hobby. What is her hobby in the picture?

「趣味は+noun+です」 introduces a hobby. Put the name of the hobby in the noun slot.

Replace 「音楽」 with 「映画」 or 「ゲーム」 to introduce a different hobby.

To ask about someone’s hobby, say 「趣味は何ですか」. Here, 「何」 is read 「なん」.

To check whether someone’s hobby is gaming, ask 「趣味はゲームですか」. Add 「か」 at the end.

After introducing your hobby, add 「あなたは?」, meaning “And you?”, to invite the other person to share theirs.

When talking about hobbies, 「わたしは映画です」 means “My hobby is movies,” not “I am a movie.”
Example sentences
- 趣味shumiはwaゲームgeemuですdesuかka
Is your hobby gaming?
- 趣味shumiはwa映画eiga
In a conversation

- Aしつれいですが、あなたの趣味は 何ですか。
Excuse me, what is your hobby?
- B趣味は 音楽
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
My hobby is music.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
趣味 すか
Is your hobby games?
More grammar in this theme
- 趣味は〜ですstating a hobby