趣味

• Reading: しゅみ
• Romaji: shumi
• Kanji breakdown: 趣 (shu) — purport, elegance, gist. 味 (mi) — taste, flavour
• Pronunciation: /ɕɯ.mi/

Meaning

Hobby; pastime; interest. Activities done for enjoyment in one's free time.

One of the most common self-introduction topics in Japan. The standard question 趣味は何ですか (What are your hobbies?) appears in nearly every textbook. Can also mean 'taste' in the sense of personal preferences or aesthetic sensibility, as in 趣味がいい (having good taste).

Examples

1. 趣味は読書と料理です。 My hobbies are reading and cooking.
2. 趣味は何ですか。 What are your hobbies?
3. 新しい趣味を始めたいです。 I want to start a new hobby.

Usage Guide

Context: self-introduction, conversation, social

Tone: friendly

Origin & History

Compound of 趣 (shu, purport/gist/elegance) and 味 (mi, taste/flavour). Together they convey 'the flavour of elegance' — activities pursued for their intrinsic enjoyment and refinement.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal