Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hobby" in Korean
“Hobby” in Korean is 취미 (pronounced "Chwimi").
취미
Chwimi
Usage & Context
A leisure activity done for enjoyment. 취미가 뭐예요? (What's your hobby?) is a common conversation topic when getting to know someone. Popular Korean hobbies include hiking, gaming, singing at norebang, taking photos, cooking, and watching dramas. 주말에 뭐 해요? (What do you do on weekends?) often leads to hobby discussions.
Example Sentence
취미가 뭐예요? 저는 사진 찍는 걸 좋아해요.
What's your hobby? I like taking photos.
How to use 취미 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hobby” is 취미, romanized as Chwimi.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 취미.
Pronunciation Guide
취 (chwi) sounds like 'chwee' as in 'cheese' but with a 'w' sound in the middle. 미 (mi) sounds like 'mee' as in 'me'. Together, 'Chwee-mee'. The 'ch' sound is similar to the 'ch' in 'church'.
More Example Sentences
Answering the common question 'What's your hobby?'
제 취미는 드라마 보는 거예요.
My hobby is watching dramas.
Expressing a desire to find a new leisure activity.
요즘 새로운 취미를 찾고 있어요.
I'm looking for a new hobby these days.
Describing personal weekend habits and preferences.
주말에 취미 생활을 즐기는 편이에요.
I tend to enjoy my hobbies on weekends.
Cultural Context
취미 (chwimi) is a very common topic when getting to know someone in Korea, often asked with '취미가 뭐예요?' (What's your hobby?). With increasing emphasis on work-life balance, especially among younger generations, having and pursuing hobbies (취미 생활) is seen as important for personal well-being. Popular hobbies range from hiking and gaming to singing at noraebang, photography, and, of course, watching K-dramas.
Editorial note
We review entries like 취미 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
취미가 뭐예요?
What's your hobby?
취미를 갖다
to have a hobby
취미로 하다
to do something as a hobby
Related Expressions
특기
teukgi
special talent, forte
여가 활동
yeoga hwaldong
leisure activity
취미 생활
chwimi saenghwal
hobby life, pursuing hobbies
여가 시간
yeoga sigan
leisure time
More Daily Life Words
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