楽しい

• Reading: たのしい
• Romaji: tanoshii
• Kanji breakdown: 楽 (tano/raku/gaku) — enjoyable, fun, music, comfort
• Pronunciation: /ta.no.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Enjoyable; fun; pleasant; happy; delightful. Describes an experience that brings joy.

An i-adjective describing the feeling of enjoyment or fun during an activity or event. Unlike 嬉しい (happy about a specific thing), 楽しい focuses on the ongoing enjoyment of an experience. The adverb form 楽しく (enjoyably) is very common. Conjugates regularly: 楽しくない, 楽しかった, 楽しくなかった.

Examples

1. 昨日のパーティーはとても楽しかったです。 Yesterday's party was a lot of fun.
2. 友達と話すのは楽しいです。 Talking with friends is fun.
3. 毎日楽しく勉強しています。 I'm having fun studying every day.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, events, hobbies

Tone: positive

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 楽 originally depicted a musical instrument on a wooden stand, associating music-making with pleasure and enjoyment.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal