Japanese for English speakers Farm · Lesson 3

being good at something

Talk about hobbies and skills in Japanese — 趣味 (shumi, hobby), 上手 (jōzu, skilled), 素人 (shirōto, amateur). Use ...が好きです to say 'I like ...' with the particle が.

Conversation

  1. Meera Meera

    カイルさんの興味は何ですか？

    kairu san no kyōmi ha nan desu ka?

    What is your hobby?

    Tip: <kyōmi> = hobby, pastime

  2. Kyle Kyle

    スノーボードがすきです

    sunōbōdo ga suki desu

    I like snowboarding

    Tip: <sunōbōdo> = snowboard, snowboarding

  3. Meera Meera

    きっと上手ですよね

    kitto jōzu desu yo ne

    You must be very good at it

    Tip: <kitto> = definitely, surely

  4. Kyle Kyle

    実は、素人ですよ

    jitsu wa, shirōto desu yo

    Well, in fact I am just an amateur

    Tip: <jitsuha> = in fact <shirōto> = amateur, non-professional

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I like ...' in Japanese?

Noun + が好きです (ga suki desu). Important: use が, not を. スノーボードが好きです = 'I like snowboarding'.

What's the difference between 上手 and 得意?

上手 (jōzu) = skilled — typically used to praise others. 得意 (tokui) = good at — can be used about yourself without sounding boastful.

What does 素人 mean?

'Amateur' or 'non-professional' — used humbly to say you're not an expert at something.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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