Vocabulary for Hobbies and Free Time

Vocabulary for hobbies and free time

Vocabulary for hobbies and free time consists of words used to talk about activities done outside work and school, for example 休日(きゅうじつ, holiday) or 週末(しゅうまつ, weekend). In the N4 exam, what is usually tested is the meaning of words, verb-object pairings (collocations), and how to read and write kanji.

【Hobbies, free time, and plans】

• 趣味(しゅみ, hobby) — a pastime done with pleasure during free time. A pattern often used is 「〜が趣味です」 or 「わたしの趣味は〜ことです」. 例) 私の趣味は、週末に絵を描くことです。
• 暇(ひま, free time) — a state in which there is no busy schedule, equivalent to 「時間がある」. Its opposite is 「忙しい(いそがしい, busy)」. 例) 暇なときは、家で音楽を聞きます。
• 予定(よてい, plan), 夢(ゆめ, dream/aspiration), and 経験(けいけん, experience) are not hobbies. 予定 is a schedule of things to be done, 夢 is something one wishes for in the future, and 経験 is something one has done before.

【Activities outside the home】