The Meaning of shumi [趣味] In Japanese

趣味
しゅみ
Romaji: shumi N5

What does 趣味 mean?

Translation and Meaning

hobby, interest, taste

Definition

趣味 (shumi) means a person’s hobby or interest; it describes activities someone regularly enjoys in their free time and the preferences that motivate those activities.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1) An aesthetic sense or personal taste used to judge art, fashion, or style rather than a specific activity.
  • 2) A habitual inclination or penchant that characterizes a person’s choices and leisure patterns.
  • 3) A conversational topic marker for discussing likes and leisure, sometimes implying social identity or lifestyle.

Composition

  • 趣 (shu) — tendency, interest; suggests moving toward or being drawn to something.
  • 味 (mi) — taste, flavor; denotes sensory or aesthetic appreciation.
  • Together they create the notion of what ‘tastes’ appealing to someone — the activities or sensibilities a person prefers.

Usage

Common in everyday speech, introductions, resumes and profiles to state what someone likes to do; appears in both casual conversations and polite contexts when describing leisure activities or preferences, and is also used when commenting on someone’s style or taste.
💡 Tips
Remember 趣味 (shumi) by picturing something that ‘adds flavor’ (味) to your life because you are drawn to it (趣) — your personal flavor of activities.

Variations

  • 好み (konomi) — preference, taste
  • 嗜好 (shikou) — tastes, inclinations
  • 娯楽 (goraku) — entertainment, amusement
  • 無趣味 (mushumi) — having no hobbies (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 私は物好きで、珍しい器を集めるのが趣味だ。
    Watashi wa monozuki de, mezurashii utsuwa o atsumeru no ga shumi da.
    I’m the kind of person who loves things, and collecting rare dishes is my hobby.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 物好きで (monozuki de) – fond of things
    • 珍しい (mezurashii) – rare
    • 器を (utsuwa o) – dishes
    • 集める (atsumeru) – to collect
    • のが (no ga) – the act of
    • 趣味だ (shumi da) – is a hobby
    Here 「物好き」 is a noun meaning ‘fond of things’ and is used with で to indicate a state or trait.
  • 私たちは 共通の趣味で すぐに 友達になり 話が盛り上がった。
    Watashitachi wa kyoutsuu no shumi de sugu ni tomodachi ni nari, hanashi ga moriagatta.
    We quickly became friends through our common hobby, and the conversation got lively.
    Lista:
    • 私たちは (watashitachi wa) – we
    • 共通の趣味で (kyoutsuu no shumi de) – through our common hobby
    • すぐに (sugu ni) – quickly
    • 友達になり (tomodachi ni nari) – to become friends
    • 話が盛り上がった (hanashi ga moriagatta) – the conversation got lively
    The target word 「共通」 means ‘common’; here it forms the phrase 「共通の趣味」 meaning ‘shared hobby’, and 「で」 marks the means.
  • その内 私は 新しい 趣味 を 始める つもりだ。
    Sono uchi watashi wa atarashii shumi o hajimeru tsumori da.
    I plan to start a new hobby eventually.
    Lista:
    • その内 (sono uchi) – eventually
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 趣味 (shumi) – hobby
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 始める (hajimeru) – start
    • つもりだ (tsumori da) – intend to
    The meaning of 「その内」 is ‘eventually/sooner or later’; it marks a future plan.
趣味