Want to talk about your hobbies in Korean but not sure where to start? Whether you're a K-drama fan, K-pop lover, or someone planning a trip to Korea, knowing how to share what you enjoy doing is a fun and useful part of learning the language.
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In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most essential Korean vocabulary and sentence structures to confidently express your hobbies. We'll also give you beginner-friendly tips and clear tables to practice and review.
By the end, you'll be able to answer questions like “What do you like to do?” and naturally talk about your favorite pastimes — in Korean!
Let’s get started with some easy examples and real-life phrases! 🎨🎮📚
🎯 Why Talking About Hobbies Matters in Korean
Hobbies are one of the easiest ways to make a real connection when speaking Korean. Whether you're introducing yourself, chatting with locals, or texting a Korean friend, sharing your hobbies makes the conversation feel natural and friendly.
In Korean culture, small talk often includes questions like “취미가 뭐예요?” (What is your hobby?) or “시간 있을 때 뭐 해요?” (What do you do in your free time?). Being able to respond confidently shows effort and builds rapport.
Koreans appreciate when language learners talk about themselves in Korean, even in simple sentences. Hobby talk gives you a great opportunity to use real-life verbs and vocabulary related to your daily interests.
Also, talking about hobbies helps reinforce sentence structures, like using the verb “좋아하다” (to like), or using present progressive with “하고 있어요” (I’m doing). So you’re not just talking — you’re practicing grammar, too!
Plus, hobbies are universal. Whether you love painting, playing games, or listening to music, someone in Korea probably enjoys the same thing. That shared interest can open up more than just a language exchange—it can build friendships.
So instead of memorizing isolated vocabulary, learning how to talk about your hobbies keeps your Korean practical, personalized, and fun. It’s a confidence booster!
If you're shy about speaking Korean, starting with your hobby gives you a topic you're already comfortable with. It helps take the pressure off and makes conversation flow naturally.
Let’s look at the core vocabulary you’ll need to begin talking about hobbies in Korean. 📖
📝 Common Hobby Categories in Korean
| Category | Korean | Romanization | Example Hobbies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music | 음악 | eumak | Playing guitar, singing, K-pop |
| Sports | 운동 | undong | Soccer, running, yoga |
| Games | 게임 | geim | Video games, board games |
| Arts & Crafts | 미술 / 공예 | misul / gongye | Painting, pottery, knitting |
| Reading | 독서 | dokseo | Books, novels, webtoons |
📘 Basic Hobby Vocabulary for Beginners
If you’re just starting out in Korean, it’s important to build your vocabulary around topics you care about—like your hobbies! These words are used in everyday conversations, dating apps, interviews, and even language exchanges. ✨
Most Korean hobby-related words are either native Korean or loanwords from English. That means many of them are easier to recognize and remember. For example, “reading” is “독서,” and “gaming” is simply “게임” (ge-im).
You’ll also notice that verbs often follow these nouns when describing actions, such as “책을 읽다” (to read a book), “그림을 그리다” (to draw a picture), or “춤을 추다” (to dance). These combinations are very common.
When building your sentences, try using these nouns with phrases like “저는 ~ 좋아해요” (I like ~), or “저의 취미는 ~입니다” (My hobby is ~). We’ll cover more sentence structures in the next section.
For now, memorize and practice the following vocabulary list. Even if you know how to say “soccer” in English, learning the Korean version helps your ears get used to native pronunciation.
Practice saying each word out loud. Don’t worry about full sentences yet—just focus on recognizing and remembering hobby words that relate to YOU. That’s the best way to stay motivated. 🚀
Here’s a simple table of hobby-related vocabulary with English meaning and Korean pronunciation. 📚
🎨 Beginner-Friendly Hobby Words in Korean
| English | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 독서 | dokseo |
| Watching movies | 영화 보기 | yeonghwa bogi |
| Drawing | 그림 그리기 | geurim geurigi |
| Singing | 노래하기 | norae hagi |
| Photography | 사진 찍기 | sajin jjikgi |
| Travel | 여행 | yeohaeng |
| Cooking | 요리 | yori |
| Exercising | 운동 | undong |
Keep reviewing these basic words as you move on. They’ll help you build more complete sentences in the next steps. Let’s go! 💪
🗣️ How to Say “My Hobby Is…” in Korean
Now that you’ve learned some basic hobby vocabulary, it’s time to start building full sentences. One of the most common and useful patterns is saying “My hobby is ___” in Korean. This helps you answer basic questions in self-introductions, language exchanges, or even when chatting casually with friends.
The standard sentence structure is simple: “제 취미는 [noun]입니다.” This translates directly to “My hobby is [noun].” It’s polite and beginner-friendly, perfect for first conversations.
You can also use “~하는 거예요” or “~하는 거 좋아해요” to make it sound more natural. For example, instead of just saying “제 취미는 독서입니다,” you can say “책 읽는 거 좋아해요” (I like reading books), which feels more casual and real.
It’s also useful to mention when or how often you enjoy the hobby. Adding phrases like “주말마다” (every weekend) or “시간 있을 때마다” (whenever I have time) makes your sentences feel more complete and fluent.
Let’s take a look at how this sentence structure works with different hobbies so you can mix and match your favorite pastimes. 🧩
You don’t need to memorize everything at once. Pick 1–2 hobbies you actually enjoy and practice saying those naturally. It’ll stick better that way!
Here’s a chart with sentence examples you can practice out loud. Try replacing the hobby word to personalize each sentence. 📌
🧾 “My Hobby Is…” Sentence Examples
| English Meaning | Korean Sentence | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| My hobby is reading books. | 제 취미는 독서입니다. | je chwimineun dokseo-imnida |
| I like listening to music. | 음악 듣는 거 좋아해요. | eumak deutneun geo joahaeyo |
| I enjoy traveling on weekends. | 주말마다 여행을 즐겨요. | jumalmada yeohaengeul jeulgyeoyo |
| My hobby is photography. | 제 취미는 사진 찍기입니다. | je chwimineun sajin jjikgi-imnida |
| I love cooking when I have time. | 시간 있을 때 요리하는 걸 좋아해요. | sigan isseul ttae yori haneun geol joahaeyo |
Try using these sentence forms in your diary, social media posts, or language apps like HelloTalk. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to talk about yourself in Korean naturally!
💬 Common Korean Hobby Phrases in Conversations
Now that you can say “My hobby is...” in Korean, it’s time to dive into real conversation phrases! These are expressions you'll hear in everyday chats, whether it's a casual meetup, a language exchange, or an introduction in class or work.
Koreans often ask about hobbies as a way to get to know someone better. It's one of the most common small-talk topics, especially when meeting someone for the first time. So it's a good idea to memorize a few go-to phrases and questions.
One of the most common questions is: “취미가 뭐예요?” This means, “What’s your hobby?” It’s polite and perfect for daily conversation. If you want to sound even more polite, you can say “취미가 어떻게 되세요?”
Answering with “저는 [hobby] 좋아해요” or “저는 [activity] 자주 해요” makes the conversation flow naturally. You don’t need to be fancy—just confident!
Let’s also practice showing interest in other people’s hobbies. Ask follow-up questions like “언제부터 그걸 했어요?” (When did you start doing that?) or “어디서 자주 해요?” (Where do you usually do it?).
If you want to invite someone to join your hobby, you can say things like “같이 해볼래요?” (Want to try it together?) or “다음에 같이 해요!” (Let’s do it together next time!).
Here’s a helpful table of conversation-ready hobby phrases with English meaning, Korean sentence, and pronunciation guide. Use them to practice listening and speaking! 🗣️
🗨️ Hobby-Related Conversation Phrases
| English | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| What’s your hobby? | 취미가 뭐예요? | chwimiga mwoyeyo? |
| I like painting. | 저는 그림 그리는 걸 좋아해요. | jeoneun geurim geurineun geol joahaeyo |
| Let’s do it together! | 같이 해요! | gachi haeyo! |
| When did you start doing that? | 언제부터 그걸 했어요? | eonjebuteo geugeol haesseoyo? |
| Where do you usually do it? | 어디서 자주 해요? | eodiseo jaju haeyo? |
Use these phrases during online exchanges, meetups, or even just to practice with Korean-speaking friends. They’re friendly, simple, and help you sound confident and engaged. 💬
🔤 Useful Verbs to Describe Hobbies in Korean
Knowing the right verbs is essential when talking about hobbies in Korean. Verbs are the heart of every sentence, and learning how to pair them with your hobby nouns helps you speak more naturally and clearly.
In Korean, most hobby verbs follow a pattern: object + verb. For example, you say “책을 읽다” (to read a book), “노래를 부르다” (to sing a song), or “사진을 찍다” (to take a photo). These combinations are super common and very useful!
Verbs in Korean are usually found in their dictionary form ending in “-다” (e.g., 하다, 읽다, 찍다). But when you use them in conversation, you’ll conjugate them into polite forms like “해요,” “읽어요,” or “찍어요.”
Also, Korean often uses verb-noun combinations. For example, “운동하다” (to exercise) is a mix of the noun “운동” (exercise) and the verb “하다” (to do). Many hobbies follow this pattern, making them easy to learn.
To talk about your hobbies, you’ll often use these verbs in the present tense (해요), or progressive (하고 있어요), especially when describing what you’re doing now or often do.
Using the wrong verb can confuse native speakers, so practicing correct pairings helps you sound more natural. Fortunately, most hobby verbs are used frequently in Korean pop culture and everyday conversations.
Let’s take a look at the most common verbs for hobbies, how they’re used, and how to conjugate them for daily use. 🎯
Here’s a practical chart of hobby-related Korean verbs with their meanings and polite forms to help you build better sentences. 📘
📖 Common Hobby Verbs in Korean
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Meaning | Polite Form | Example Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 읽다 | to read | 읽어요 | 책을 읽어요 (I read books) |
| 보다 | to watch/see | 봐요 | 영화를 봐요 (I watch movies) |
| 그리다 | to draw | 그려요 | 그림을 그려요 (I draw pictures) |
| 부르다 | to sing | 불러요 | 노래를 불러요 (I sing a song) |
| 찍다 | to take (photo) | 찍어요 | 사진을 찍어요 (I take pictures) |
| 하다 | to do | 해요 | 운동해요 (I exercise) |
Practice saying these verbs out loud with your favorite hobbies. Try forming 2–3 sentences using different combinations. With repetition, they’ll become second nature! 💪
🎭 Practice Dialogues for Talking About Hobbies in Korean
Now that you’ve learned hobby vocabulary, sentence patterns, and useful verbs, it’s time to put them into action with real conversations. Practice dialogues help you build fluency, sound more natural, and prepare for real-life situations.
In Korean, conversations about hobbies can happen in all sorts of situations—from meeting someone new to chatting casually with coworkers or friends. The key is to start simply and build confidence.
In the dialogues below, you’ll see polite speech (존댓말), which is perfect for most social settings. Later, as you get closer to someone, you can switch to casual language (반말), but it’s best to start polite.
You’ll also see how questions, answers, and follow-ups are structured. Learning these patterns helps you avoid awkward pauses and keep the conversation flowing naturally.
Try reading each dialogue out loud. Better yet, find a language partner or record yourself to practice pronunciation and flow. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll feel! 🎤
Here are two sample dialogues you can use as practice. You can swap out the hobbies with your own favorites! 🎮🎨📚
🗣️ Hobby Conversation Practice #1
| Role | Korean | English |
|---|---|---|
| A | 안녕하세요! 취미가 뭐예요? | Hello! What’s your hobby? |
| B | 저는 음악 듣는 걸 좋아해요. | I like listening to music. |
| A | 아, 저도요! 어떤 음악 들어요? | Oh, me too! What kind of music do you listen to? |
| B | K-pop을 자주 들어요. | I often listen to K-pop. |
🎬 Hobby Conversation Practice #2
| Role | Korean | English |
|---|---|---|
| A | 시간 있을 때 뭐 해요? | What do you do in your free time? |
| B | 보통 그림을 그려요. 재밌어요! | I usually draw. It’s fun! |
| A | 그림 잘 그리시나 봐요! | You must be good at drawing! |
| B | 아니에요, 그냥 취미예요. 😊 | Not really, it’s just a hobby. 😊 |
Keep practicing with these dialogues until they feel natural. Swap in your own hobbies, record yourself, or try them with a tutor. The goal is fluency through fun, real situations! 🌟
❓ FAQ – 20 Common Questions About Talking About Hobbies in Korean
Q1. How do you say “hobby” in Korean?
A1. The word for hobby is “취미” (chwimi).
Q2. How do I ask someone what their hobby is?
A2. You can ask, “취미가 뭐예요?” or more politely, “취미가 어떻게 되세요?”
Q3. What’s the most common way to say “My hobby is…” in Korean?
A3. You can say, “제 취미는 ___입니다” or “저는 ___ 좋아해요.”
Q4. How do I say “I like drawing” in Korean?
A4. Say “그림 그리는 걸 좋아해요.”
Q5. Is it okay to use casual speech when talking about hobbies?
A5. Use polite speech (존댓말) unless you're close with the person. Use casual speech only when appropriate.
Q6. Can I use loanwords like “game” or “music”?
A6. Yes! Korean often uses English loanwords like 게임 (game) and 뮤직 (music).
Q7. How do I say “I enjoy traveling” in Korean?
A7. You can say, “여행하는 걸 즐겨요” or “여행을 좋아해요.”
Q8. What’s the verb for “to read” in Korean?
A8. It’s “읽다” (ik-da), and the polite form is “읽어요.”
Q9. How do I say “Let’s do it together” in Korean?
A9. Say “같이 해요!”
Q10. What’s the Korean word for painting or drawing?
A10. It's “그림 그리기” (geurim geurigi).
Q11. Can I use hobbies to introduce myself in Korean?
A11. Absolutely! It’s a great way to make your introduction more personal.
Q12. How do I say “I like watching movies” in Korean?
A12. Say “영화 보는 걸 좋아해요.”
Q13. What’s the difference between 좋아해요 and 사랑해요?
A13. 좋아해요 = like, 사랑해요 = love (stronger). For hobbies, use 좋아해요.
Q14. How do I say “cooking” in Korean?
A14. 요리 (yori).
Q15. How do you use “하다” for hobbies?
A15. Many hobbies use “하다” as in 운동하다 (to exercise), 요리하다 (to cook), etc.
Q16. Is there a polite way to show interest in someone’s hobby?
A16. You can say, “재밌겠어요!” (That sounds fun!) or ask, “언제부터 하셨어요?”
Q17. How do I say “I don’t have a hobby” in Korean?
A17. Say “취미가 없어요.”
Q18. How can I sound more natural when talking about hobbies?
A18. Use phrases like “~하는 걸 좋아해요” and add details like when, how often, or where.
Q19. Can I use these hobby expressions in writing too?
A19. Yes! They’re great for messages, bios, language apps, or even emails.
Q20. How do I keep improving my hobby conversation skills?
A20. Practice speaking, keep a hobby diary in Korean, and talk with native speakers as much as you can!
📌 Disclaimer
This blog post is intended for educational purposes only and is based on commonly used Korean expressions. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, variations in usage and nuance may occur depending on region, context, or formality. For formal language learning, consider consulting certified Korean language teachers or textbooks.
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