Discussing hobbies is a great way to connect with people and learn more about their interests. This guide provides essential Korean vocabulary and phrases for talking about your hobbies and asking others about theirs. You’ll learn how to express your interests, understand common hobby-related terms, and engage in simple conversations about leisure activities in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression: Hobby
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Expression: 취미
Pronunciation: chwi-mi
Meaning: Hobby
Asking About Hobbies
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Expression: 취미가 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: chwi-mi-ga mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is your hobby? (Polite) -
Expression: 취미가 어떻게 되세요?
Pronunciation: chwi-mi-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?
Meaning: What is your hobby? (More formal) -
Expression: 어떤 취미를 가지고 계세요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon chwi-mi-reul ga-ji-go gye-se-yo?
Meaning: What kind of hobbies do you have? (Formal) -
Expression: 시간이 날 때 보통 뭐 하세요?
Pronunciation: si-gan-i nal ttae bo-tong mwo ha-se-yo?
Meaning: What do you usually do when you have free time? (Polite) -
Expression: 주말에는 주로 뭘 하세요?
Pronunciation: ju-mal-e-neun ju-ro mwol ha-se-yo?
Meaning: What do you mainly do on weekends? (Polite) -
Expression: 특별한 취미 있으세요?
Pronunciation: teuk-byeol-han chwi-mi i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you have any special hobbies? (Polite) -
Expression: 요즘 즐겨 하는 거 있어요?
Pronunciation: yo-jeum jeul-gyeo ha-neun geo i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Is there anything you enjoy doing these days? (Polite) -
Expression: 취미 생활을 즐기세요?
Pronunciation: chwi-mi saeng-hwal-eul jeul-gi-se-yo?
Meaning: Do you enjoy your hobbies? (Polite) -
Expression: 그 취미는 언제부터 시작하셨어요?
Pronunciation: geu chwi-mi-neun eon-je-bu-teo si-jak-ha-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: When did you start that hobby? (Polite) -
Expression: 혹시 저랑 같은 취미 있으세요?
Pronunciation: hok-si jeo-rang ga-teun chwi-mi i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: By any chance, do you have the same hobby as me? (Polite) -
Expression: 취미에 대해 더 이야기해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: chwi-mi-e dae-hae deo i-ya-gi-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you tell me more about your hobby? (Polite)
Talking About Your Hobbies
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Expression: 제 취미는 [취미]입니다.
Pronunciation: je chwi-mi-neun [hobby]-im-ni-da.
Meaning: My hobby is [hobby]. (Formal) -
Expression: 제 취미는 [취미]예요.
Pronunciation: je chwi-mi-neun [hobby]-ye-yo.
Meaning: My hobby is [hobby]. (Polite) -
Expression: 저는 [취미]를 좋아해요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun [hobby]-reul jo-a-hae-yo.
Meaning: I like [hobby]. (Polite) -
Expression: 저는 [취미]하는 것을 즐겨요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun [hobby]-ha-neun geo-seul jeul-gyeo-yo.
Meaning: I enjoy doing [hobby]. (Polite) -
Expression: 시간이 날 때 [취미]를 해요.
Pronunciation: si-gan-i nal ttae [hobby]-reul hae-yo.
Meaning: I do [hobby] when I have free time. (Polite) -
Expression: 주말에는 주로 [취미]를 해요.
Pronunciation: ju-mal-e-neun ju-ro [hobby]-reul hae-yo.
Meaning: I mainly do [hobby] on weekends. (Polite) -
Expression: 요즘 [취미]에 푹 빠졌어요.
Pronunciation: yo-jeum [hobby]-e puk ppa-jyeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’m really into [hobby] these days. (Polite) -
Expression: 제 취미는 다양해요.
Pronunciation: je chwi-mi-neun da-yang-hae-yo.
Meaning: I have various hobbies. (Polite) -
Expression: 특별한 취미는 없어요.
Pronunciation: teuk-byeol-han chwi-mi-neun eop-seo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t have any special hobbies. (Polite) -
Expression: [취미]는 스트레스 해소에 좋아요.
Pronunciation: [hobby]-neun seu-teu-re-seu hae-so-e jo-a-yo.
Meaning: [Hobby] is good for relieving stress. (Polite) -
Expression: 어렸을 때부터 [취미]를 했어요.
Pronunciation: eo-ryeo-sseul ttae-bu-teo [hobby]-reul hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’ve been doing [hobby] since I was young. (Polite) -
Expression: 기회가 되면 같이 [취미]해요!
Pronunciation: gi-hoe-ga doe-myeon ga-chi [hobby]-hae-yo!
Meaning: Let’s do [hobby] together if we get a chance! (Polite, friendly)
Common Hobby Examples
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Expression: 영화 보기
Pronunciation: yeong-hwa bo-gi
Meaning: Watching movies -
Expression: 음악 감상
Pronunciation: eu-mak gam-sang
Meaning: Listening to music -
Expression: 독서
Pronunciation: dok-seo
Meaning: Reading books -
Expression: 운동
Pronunciation: un-dong
Meaning: Exercising / Sports -
Expression: 요리
Pronunciation: yo-ri
Meaning: Cooking -
Expression: 여행
Pronunciation: yeo-haeng
Meaning: Traveling -
Expression: 사진 찍기
Pronunciation: sa-jin jjik-gi
Meaning: Taking photos -
Expression: 그림 그리기
Pronunciation: geu-rim geu-ri-gi
Meaning: Drawing / Painting -
Expression: 게임하기
Pronunciation: ge-im-ha-gi
Meaning: Playing games -
Expression: 악기 연주
Pronunciation: ak-gi yeon-ju
Meaning: Playing a musical instrument -
Expression: 등산
Pronunciation: deung-san
Meaning: Hiking -
Expression: 외국어 공부
Pronunciation: oe-gu-geo gong-bu
Meaning: Studying foreign languages
Korean Culture Notes
In Korea, asking about hobbies is a common way to break the ice and get to know someone better, especially in informal settings or when meeting new people.
Group activities are popular hobbies. Many Koreans enjoy hobbies like hiking (등산 – deung-san), joining sports clubs, or participating in study groups (스터디 그룹 – seu-teo-di geu-rup).
While traditionally, hobbies might have been seen purely as leisure, there’s a growing trend of pursuing hobbies for self-development (자기계발 – ja-gi-gye-bal), such as learning a new skill or language.
Don’t be surprised if someone mentions studying as a hobby, particularly among students or young professionals aiming for career advancement. It reflects the emphasis on continuous learning in Korean society.
Sharing food and drinks is often intertwined with social hobbies. Activities like going to cafes (카페 가기 – ka-pe ga-gi) or exploring restaurants (맛집 탐방 – mat-jip tam-bang) are considered enjoyable leisure pursuits.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two colleagues, Minjun (A) and Sora (B), are chatting during a coffee break.
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Expression: A: 소라 씨, 주말에 보통 뭐 하세요?
Pronunciation: So-ra ssi, ju-mal-e bo-tong mwo ha-se-yo?
Meaning: Sora, what do you usually do on weekends? -
Expression: B: 저는 주로 집에서 쉬거나 친구들 만나요. 민준 씨는요? 취미 있으세요?
Pronunciation: Jeo-neun ju-ro jib-e-seo swi-geo-na chin-gu-deul man-na-yo. Min-jun ssi-neun-yo? Chwi-mi i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: I usually rest at home or meet friends. How about you, Minjun? Do you have any hobbies? -
Expression: A: 네, 제 취미는 사진 찍기예요. 날씨 좋으면 공원에 가서 사진 찍어요.
Pronunciation: Ne, je chwi-mi-neun sa-jin jjik-gi-ye-yo. Nal-ssi jo-eu-myeon gong-won-e ga-seo sa-jin jji-geo-yo.
Meaning: Yes, my hobby is taking photos. When the weather is nice, I go to the park and take pictures. -
Expression: B: 와, 멋지네요! 사진 찍는 거 재미있겠어요. 언제부터 시작하셨어요?
Pronunciation: Wa, meot-ji-ne-yo! Sa-jin jjik-neun geo jae-mi-it-ge-sseo-yo. Eon-je-bu-teo si-jak-ha-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Wow, that’s cool! Taking photos must be fun. When did you start? -
Expression: A: 대학생 때부터요. 소라 씨는 특별히 좋아하는 거 있으세요?
Pronunciation: Dae-hak-saeng ttae-bu-teo-yo. So-ra ssi-neun teuk-byeol-hi jo-a-ha-neun geo i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Since I was a university student. Is there anything you particularly like, Sora? -
Expression: B: 음… 저는 요즘 요리에 관심이 생겼어요. 주말마다 새로운 레시피를 시도해 봐요.
Pronunciation: Eum… jeo-neun yo-jeum yo-ri-e gwan-sim-i saeng-gyeot-seo-yo. Ju-mal-ma-da sae-ro-un re-si-pi-reul si-do-hae bwa-yo.
Meaning: Hmm… I’ve become interested in cooking lately. I try new recipes every weekend. -
Expression: A: 오, 요리요? 대단하네요! 다음에 맛있는 거 만들어 주시면 좋겠네요!
Pronunciation: O, yo-ri-yo? Dae-dan-ha-ne-yo! Da-eum-e ma-sin-neun geo man-deu-reo ju-si-myeon jo-ken-ne-yo!
Meaning: Oh, cooking? That’s amazing! It would be great if you could make something delicious next time! -
Expression: B: 하하, 네. 기회가 되면요!
Pronunciation: Ha-ha, ne. Gi-hoe-ga doe-myeon-yo!
Meaning: Haha, yes. If I get the chance!
Practice Tips
Talking about hobbies is a fantastic way to practice Korean! Try asking your Korean friends or language exchange partners “취미가 뭐예요?” (chwi-mi-ga mwo-ye-yo?).
Prepare a short description of your own hobbies using the phrases learned today. Practice saying “제 취미는 [hobby]예요” (je chwi-mi-neun [hobby]-ye-yo) or “저는 [hobby]를 좋아해요” (jeo-neun [hobby]-reul jo-a-hae-yo).
Listen to how native speakers talk about their hobbies in dramas or variety shows. Pay attention to the vocabulary and sentence structures they use~ Good luck with your practice!
