Lesson 11: どんなマンガがすきですか – Talking About Hobbies in Japanese

Hobbies, interests, and preferences

Learn vocabulary for talking about hobbies, entertainment, and personal interests. This lesson focuses on expressing likes, dislikes, and frequency of activities.

Key topics:

・Talking about hobbies and interests
・Expressing likes and dislikes
・Music, movies, and entertainment genres
・Sports and leisure activities
・Frequency adverbs (always, sometimes, etc.)
・Asking about preferences

Vocabulary

かいものをする

kaimono o suru

買かい物ものをする

to do the shopping

Example

どようびにかいものをします.

Doyoubi ni kaimono o shimasu.

I do shopping on Saturdays.

スポーツをする

supootsu o suru

to play sports

Example

まいにちスポーツをする.

Mainichi supootsu o shimasu.

I play sports every day.

そうじをする

souji o suru

掃除そうじをする

to clean up

Example

へやをそうじします.

Heya o souji shimasu.

I clean the room.

てれびをみる

terebi o miru

テレビを見みる

to watch TV

Example

ばんごはんのあとでてれびをみます.

Bangohan no ato de terebi o mimasu.

I watch TV after dinner.

おんがくをきく

ongaku o kiku

音楽おんがくを聞きく

to listen to music

Example

かえりみちでおんがくをききます.

Kaerimichi de ongaku o kikimasu.

I listen to music on the way home.

ゲームをする

geemu o suru

to play video games

Example

ともだちとゲームをする.

Tomodachi to geemu o shimasu.

I play games with friends.

さんぽをする

sanpo o suru

散歩さんぽをする

to take a walk

Example

あささんぽをします.

Asa sanpo o shimasu.

I take a walk in the morning.

せんたくをする

sentaku o suru

洗濯せんたくをする

to do the laundry

Example

にちようびにせんたくをします.

Nichiyoubi ni sentaku o shimasu.

I do laundry on Sundays.

べんきょうする

benkyou suru

勉強べんきょうする

to study

Example

日本にっぽん語ごをべんきょうします.

Nihongo o benkyou shimasu.

I study Japanese.

ほんをよむ

hon o yomu

本ほんを読よむ

to read books

Example

でんしゃでほんをよみます.

Densha de hon o yomimasu.

I read books on the train.

りょうりをする

ryouri o suru

料理りょうりをする

to cook

Example

ばんごはんをりょうりします.

Bangohan o ryouri shimasu.

I cook dinner.

ゆっくりする

yukkuri suru

to relax

Example

にちようびはゆっくりします.

Nichiyoubi wa yukkuri shimasu.

I relax on Sundays.

ごろごろする

gorogoro suru

to laze around

Example

やすみのひはごろごろします.

Yasumi no hi wa gorogoro shimasu.

On days off, I laze around.

すきな

suki na

好すきな

Example

すきなおんがくはなんですか.

Suki na ongaku wa nan desu ka.

What music do you like?

だいすきな

daisuki na

大好だいすきな

love

Example

あにめがだいすきです.

Anime ga daisuki desu.

I love anime.

おんがく

ongaku

音楽おんがく

music

Example

おんがくをききます.

Ongaku o kikimasu.

I listen to music.

ゲーム

geemu

games

Example

よるゲームをします.

Yoru geemu o shimasu.

I play games at night.

サッカー

sakkaa

soccer

Example

サッカーをします.

Sakkaa o shimasu.

I play soccer.

しゅみ

shumi

趣味しゅみ

hobby

Example

しゅみはなんですか.

Shumi wa nan desu ka.

What is your hobby?

どくしょ

dokusho

読書どくしょ

reading

Example

どくしょがしゅみです.

Dokusho ga shumi desu.

Reading is my hobby.

すいえい

suiei

水泳すいえい

swimming

Example

すいえいがとくいです.

Suiei ga tokui desu.

I'm good at swimming.

アニメ

anime

anime (animation)

Example

アニメをみます.

Anime o mimasu.

I watch anime.

えいが

eiga

映画えいが

movie

Example

えいがをみにいきます.

Eiga o mini ikimasu.

I go to see a movie.

そと

soto

外そと

outside

Example

そとであそびます.

Soto de asobimasu.

I play outside.

たっきゅう

takkyuu

卓球たっきゅう

table tennis

Example

たっきゅうをします.

Takkyuu o shimasu.

I play table tennis.

テニス

tenisu

tennis

Example

テニスをします.

Tenisu o shimasu.

I play tennis.

バスケットボール

basukettobooru

basketball

Example

バスケットボールをみます.

Basukettobooru o mimasu.

I watch basketball.

ひとりで

hitori de

1人とりで

on my own

Example

ひとりでえいがをみます.

Hitori de eiga o mimasu.

I watch movies on my own.

まんが

manga

マンガ

manga (comic books)

Example

まんがをよみます.

Manga o yomimasu.

I read manga.

やすみのひ

yasumi no hi

休やすみの日ひ

day off

Example

やすみのひにりょこうします.

Yasumi no hi ni ryokou shimasu.

I travel on my days off.

ラグビー

ragubii

rugby

Example

ラグビーをします.

Ragubii o shimasu.

I play rugby.

れんあいえいが

renai eiga

恋愛れんあい映画れんあいえいが

romantic movie

Example

れんあいえいががすきです.

Renai eiga ga suki desu.

I like romantic movies.

バドミントン

badominton

badminton

Example

バドミントンをします.

Badominton o shimasu.

I play badminton.

ファッション

fasshon

fashion

Example

ファッションにきょうみがあります.

Fasshon ni kyoumi ga arimasu.

I'm interested in fashion.

どんな

donna

what kind of

Example

どんなえいががすきですか.

Donna eiga ga suki desu ka.

What kind of movies do you like?

いつも

itsumo

always

Example

いつもコーヒーをのみます.

Itsumo koohii o nomimasu.

I always drink coffee.

たいてい

taitei

usually

Example

たいていほんをよみます.

Taitei hon o yomimasu.

I usually read books.

よく

yoku

often

Example

よくすしをたべます.

Yoku sushi o tabemasu.

I often eat sushi.

ときどき

tokidoki

sometimes

Example

ときどきジョギングをします.

Tokidoki jogingu o shimasu.

I sometimes jog.

あまり

amari

rarely

Example

あまりにくをたべません.

Amari niku o tabemasen.

I don't eat meat much.

ぜんぜん

zenzen

(not) at all

Example

ぜんぜんみません.

Zenzen mimasen.

I don't watch it at all.

Conversation

__ かなあ

kanaa

I wonder __

Example Usage

あしたはあめかなあ.

Ashita wa ame kanaa.

I wonder if it will rain tomorrow.

そうですねえ

Sou desu nee

Let's see.

Example Usage

そうですねえ、たぶんえいがにいきます.

Sou desu nee, tabun eiga ni ikimasu.

Let's see, I'll probably go to a movie.

えらいですね

Erai desu ne

That's admirable.

Example Usage

まいにちべんきょうするんですか.えらいですね.

Mainichi benkyou surun desu ka. Erai desu ne.

You study every day? That's admirable.

Kanji

本ほん

book

本🎬

origin, book

Example

この本ほんは面白おもしろいです.

Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.

This book is interesting.

読よみます

to read

読🎬

read

Example

新聞しんぶんを読よみます.

Shinbun o yomimasu.

I read the newspaper.

聞()きます

to listen, to hear

聞🎬

hear, listen

Example

音楽おんがくを聞きます.

Ongaku o kikimasu.

I listen to music.

見みます

to see, to watch

見🎬

see, look

Example

テレビを見みます.

Terebi o mimasu.

I watch TV.

友ともだち

friend

友🎬

friend

Example

友ともだちと会あいます.

Tomodachi to aimasu.

I meet with friends.

何なに

what

何🎬

what

Example

何なんが好すきですか.

Nani ga suki desu ka.

What do you like?

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Expressing what you like

Structure: N + が + すきです

Use this pattern to say what you like. The particle が marks the thing that is liked. すきです is a ナ-adjective that means 'liked' or 'favorite'.

How to use: Attach が to the noun you like, then add すきです: N + が + すきです. The question form is N + が + すきですか. The negative is N + が + すきじゃないです or すきではありません. For a stronger like, use だいすきです. In casual speech, すきだ is used.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use を with すき; the correct particle is が. すき conjugates like a ナ-adjective, so すきじゃないです is correct. Compare with きらいです (dislike), which also takes が.

Examples

まんががすきです.

Manga ga suki desu.

I like manga.

ねこがすきじゃないです.

Neko ga suki ja nai desu.

I don't like cats.

Rule 2: Asking what kind of something

Structure: どんな + N

どんな is used to ask about the type or kind of something. It is similar to 'what kind of' in English. Place どんな before a noun.

How to use: Use どんな + N. A common pattern is どんな + N + が + すきですか. You can also use it with other verbs: どんな本ほんを読よみますか. There is no negative form for どんな itself. Related question words are どの (which) and 何なんの (what kind of).

💡 Pro Tip: どんな asks for a description or genre; どの asks you to choose from a specific set; 何なんの asks about content or affiliation. Do not confuse どんな with どんなに (how much).

Examples

どんなえいががすきですか.

Donna eiga ga suki desu ka.

What kind of movies do you like?

どんなおんがくをききますか.

Donna ongaku o kikimasu ka.

What kind of music do you listen to?

Rule 3: Marking the direct object of a verb

Structure: N + を + V

The particle を marks the direct object of a verb—what is being acted upon. It attaches to a noun and indicates that the noun is the object of the following verb.

How to use: Place を after the noun that is the direct object, before the verb: N + を + V. Example: ほんをよみます. The particle を is pronounced 'o' (not 'wo'). In casual speech, を is sometimes omitted. Negative: ほんをよみません.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use を with intransitive verbs like 行いきます, 来きます, or あります. Do not confuse を with が, which marks the subject. As a particle, を is always pronounced 'o'.

Examples

ほんをよみます.

Hon o yomimasu.

I read books.

みずをのみます.

Mizu o nomimasu.

I drink water.

Rule 4: Connecting nouns with 'and'

Structure: N1 + と + N2

と connects two or more nouns, similar to 'and' in English. It is used to list items exhaustively. For a non-exhaustive list, use や.

How to use: Place と between nouns: N1 + と + N2. For more than two, repeat: N1 + と + N2 + と + N3. Example: テニスとサッカーーがすきです. The particle と can also mean 'with' for people: [Person] + と + V.

💡 Pro Tip: と is exhaustive; や is non-exhaustive (A and B, among others). Do not use と to connect clauses; use the て-form or が. Pronunciation is clear and short.

Examples

テニスとサッカーーがすきです.

Tenisu to sakkaa ga suki desu.

I like tennis and soccer.

りんごとばななをかいます.

Ringo to banana o kaimasu.

I will buy apples and bananas.

Rule 5: Marking where or how an action happens

Structure: [Place] + で + V / [Means] + で + V

で indicates where an action takes place or the means by which something is done. It attaches to a noun and marks the location of an action or the tool/method used.

How to use: For location of action: [Place] + で + V-ます. For means: [Tool/Means] + で + V-ます. Example: そとでさんぽします. For transport: でんしゃで行いきます. The question form is どこで V-ますか.

💡 Pro Tip: で marks the location of an action, while に marks the location of existence. で marks a means or tool, while を marks a direct object. Do not use で with existence verbs like あります or います.

Examples

そとでさんぽします.

Soto de sanpo shimasu.

I take walks outside.

えんぴつでかきます.

Enpitsu de kakimasu.

I write with a pencil.

Rule 6: Emphasizing 'not at all' with negative verbs

Structure: ぜんぜん + V-ません

ぜんぜん means 'not at all' and is used with negative verb forms to emphasize complete absence of an action. It strengthens the negation.

How to use: Place ぜんぜん before a negative verb: ぜんぜん + V-ません. Example: ぜんぜんみません. In casual speech, use the ない form: ぜんぜんみない. It can also be used with negative adjectives: ぜんぜんおいしくないです.

💡 Pro Tip: In modern colloquial Japanese, ぜんぜん is sometimes used with positive forms to mean 'totally' (e.g., ぜんぜんいい), but in standard grammar it requires a negative. Do not confuse it with あまり (not very), which is softer.

Examples

ぜんぜんみません.

Zenzen mimasen.

I don't watch it at all.

ぜんぜんたべません.

Zenzen tabemasen.

I don't eat at all.

Rule 7: Asking what something is

Structure: N + は + 何なに + ですか

This expression asks what something is using the interrogative word 何なに (what). It is used to ask about hobbies or other topics. 何なに is pronounced なん when followed by ですか, and なに when followed by particles like が.

How to use: Use N + は + 何なに + ですか. The topic is marked with は. The question word 何なに comes before ですか. In casual speech, 何なに？ or なに？ is used. Related: これは何なんですか (What is this?).

💡 Pro Tip: Pronunciation: 何なに is なん before です, but なに before が, を, に, etc. Do not say なにですか. In casual speech, 何なに？ is common but can sound blunt.

Examples

しゅみは、なんですか.

Shumi wa, nan desu ka.

What's your hobby?

これはなんですか.

Kore wa nan desu ka.

What is this?

Rule 8: Saying something is not very [adjective]

Structure: あまり + ナA + じゃないです / あまり + イA + くないです

あまり is an adverb used with negative forms of adjectives to indicate that the degree is not high. It means 'not very' or 'not really.' It softens a negative statement.

How to use: Use あまり + ナA + じゃないです or あまり + イA + くないです. Example: スポーツは、あまりすきじゃないです. For verbs, use あまり + V-ません. The topic is marked with は.

💡 Pro Tip: あまり must be used with a negative. Do not use it with positive forms. ぜんぜん is stronger ('not at all'). To indicate a high degree, use とても or だいすきです.

Examples

スポーツは、あまりすきじゃないです.

Supootsu wa, amari suki ja nai desu.

I don't like sports very much.

このほんはあまりおもしろくないです.

Kono hon wa amari omoshirokunai desu.

This book is not very interesting.

Rule 9: Saying with whom and where you do something

Structure: [Person] + と + [Place] + で + V-ます

This pattern combines と and で to say with whom and where an action is done. と marks the person you do the action with, and で marks the place where the action happens. The order of the person and place phrases can be swapped.

How to use: Use [Person] + と + [Place] + で + V-ます. Example: おっととこうえんでテニスをします. The direct object can also be added with を: [Person] + と + [Place] + で + [Object] + を + V-ます.

💡 Pro Tip: と marks 'with' a person, while で marks the location of an action. Do not use に for the place of action. Word order is flexible: こうえんでおっととテニスをします is also correct.

Examples

おっととこうえんでテニスをします.

Otto to kouen de tenisu o shimasu.

I play tennis with my husband at the park.

ともだちととしょかんでべんきょうします.

Tomodachi to toshokan de benkyou shimasu.

I study with my friend at the library.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Expressing what you like

Rule 2: Asking what kind of something

Rule 3: Marking the direct object of a verb

Rule 4: Connecting nouns with 'and'

Rule 5: Marking where or how an action happens

Rule 6: Emphasizing 'not at all' with negative verbs

Rule 7: Asking what something is

Rule 8: Saying something is not very [adjective]

Rule 9: Saying with whom and where you do something

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20

Question 21

Question 22

Question 23

Question 24

Question 25

Question 26