How to Say What's Your Hobby in Korean (취미가 뭐예요?)

What you'll learn

• Say 취미가 뭐예요? aloud as [취미가 뭐예요], with a clear ㅟ.
• Choose between 취미가 뭐예요?, 취미가 어떻게 되세요? and 취미가 뭐야? for a stranger, a senior and a friend.
• Answer with a full sentence: verb + 는 걸 좋아해요.
• Avoid answering with a bare noun, which can sound clipped.

Before you start: you need to read Hangul; romanization is shown as an aid and can be hidden. Time: about 9 minutes. Audio plays only when you press a button.

How Do You Say What's Your Hobby in Korean?

The most natural way to ask about a hobby is 취미가 뭐예요?. It joins 취미 (hobby), the subject marker 가 and 뭐예요 (what is it). Four lines cover the question, the respectful version, the casual version and an answer.

The table lists the choices. The next section shows when each one fits.

What Are the Polite and Casual Ways to Say What's Your Hobby?

Korean changes the sentence ending to match the listener's age, status and closeness. These endings are called speech levels, and the guide to Korean speech levels explains them in full. In a formal setting, such as an interview, the ending becomes 취미가 무엇입니까? (chwimiga mueosimnikka). In daily life, the four lines below are enough.

Polite: 취미가 뭐예요? (chwimiga mwoyeyo)

취미가 뭐예요? is the standard hobby question. 취미 means hobby, 가 marks it as the subject, and 뭐예요 asks what it is. It is a friendly, easy topic, so it works well early in a conversation.

Polite: 취미가 어떻게 되세요? (chwimiga eotteoke doeseyo)

취미가 어떻게 되세요? literally asks "how does your hobby turn out?". It carries the honorific -시- and sounds softer and more careful than 뭐예요. Use it with a senior or a guest. Among friends it sounds stiff.

Casual: 취미가 뭐야? (chwimiga mwoya)

취미가 뭐야? drops the polite ending. It is natural with close friends, classmates of your age and younger people. Adding 너는 (as for you) makes it feel even more friendly.

Polite: 저는 영화 보는 걸 좋아해요 (jeoneun yeonghwa boneun geol joahaeyo)

The answer uses the pattern verb + 는 걸 좋아해요. 보는 (watching) turns the verb 보다 into a noun phrase, 걸 is the everyday short form of 것을, and 좋아해요 means "I like". You can also use 제 취미는 + noun + 이에요 or 예요, such as 제 취미는 요리예요 (my hobby is cooking).

Four lines cover the question and the answer. Saying the main question cleanly comes next.

How Do You Pronounce 취미가 뭐예요?

취미가 뭐예요? is written with six syllables and spoken as [취미가 뭐예요], chwimiga mwoyeyo. It has no sound change, so the spelling is a reliable guide.

1. 취 (chwi): start with rounded lips, then spread them: "chwee"
2. 미 (mi): "mee"
3. 가 (ga): "gah"
4. 뭐 (mwo): a short "mwuh"; the ㅓ part is open and not rounded
5. 예 (ye): "yeh"
6. 요 (yo): "yoh"; the question word 뭐 marks the question, so the end usually falls

Sound Changes to Listen For

Three points matter here, from the National Institute of Korean Language Standard Pronunciation (표준 발음법) and everyday speech.

• No change in the main question. 취미가 뭐예요 is said as it is written. The ending 뭐예요 is also heard as [뭐에요], which is a common everyday variant.
• Aspiration in 어떻게. In 어떻게 되세요, the ㅎ meets the ㄱ and the pair becomes one puff of air: [어떠케]. Revised Romanization writes eotteoke.
• Silent ㅎ in 좋아해요. The ㅎ of 좋 drops before the vowel, so 좋아해요 is [조아해요], joahaeyo. Also, 걸 is a spoken contraction of 것을 (geoseul).

With the sounds set, the next question is who to ask.

When Should You Use 취미가 뭐예요?, and When Should You Not?

Ask 취미가 뭐예요? when you want an easy topic with a new acquaintance. Use the respectful form for seniors.

Situations Where It Fits

• A first meeting. 취미가 뭐예요? is a gentle opener after introductions.
• A club or class. The question helps people find shared interests.
• A senior or a guest. 취미가 어떻게 되세요? is polite and careful.
• A close friend. 취미가 뭐야? is quick and warm.

Situations to Avoid

• Answering with a bare noun. Saying only 영화 can sound clipped. Add -요 (영화요) at least, or better, a full sentence with 좋아해요.
• Using 취미가 뭐야? with a boss. The casual ending is too familiar.
• Asking in a long interview style. One hobby question is enough, then follow their lead.

These choices are easier to feel in real exchanges, so here are three.

What Does What's Your Hobby Sound Like in a Real Conversation?

A hobby exchange is short. The asker uses a polite form, and the answer is a full sentence.

What to notice: Dan answers with a full sentence, which keeps the talk going.

What to notice: the junior uses the respectful form, and the boss replies in a plain polite sentence.

What to notice: both friends use casual endings, and 너는? turns the question back.

Behind these lines sits some social culture worth knowing.

What Should You Know about the Culture behind What's Your Hobby?

In Korea, hobby talk is common in the first conversation and often leads to other topics.

• A polite opener. Korean small talk often moves from hobbies to age and job, so the question is an easy way in.
• Hobby and special skill. Self-introductions and forms have often asked for 취미 (hobby) and 특기 (special skill) together.
• Full sentences. Koreans like to hear what you do on the weekend, so give a short detail.
• Common answers. Many people say 영화 보기, 독서 (reading), 운동 (exercise) or 여행 (travel).

An expert tip: the pattern verb + 는 걸 좋아해요 works for any activity, not only hobbies. Change the verb: 요리하는 걸 좋아해요 (I like cooking), 걷는 걸 좋아해요 (I like walking). This page covers asking and answering. Hobby vocabulary lists are on the hobby word page.

What Mistakes Do Learners Make with What's Your Hobby in Korean?

Most mistakes come from the answer shape, the level and the sound of 어떻게.

Learners often translate "my hobby is movies" word by word and end up with a bare noun. Korean prefers a verb phrase. Learn the 는 걸 좋아해요 pattern once and you can answer for any activity.

Is It the Same as Hobby, Hobbies or Favorite Hobby?

Partly. The short answers below cover the other ways people search for this phrase.

• Hobby in Korean: the word is 취미 (chwimi). The page on hobby in Korean gives the word in full.
• Hobbies in Korean: Korean does not need a plural. Say 제 취미는 요리하고 독서예요 (my hobbies are cooking and reading).
• What do you like to do in Korean: ask 뭐 하는 걸 좋아해요? (mwo haneun geol joahaeyo), pronounced [뭐 하는 걸 조아해요].
• Favorite hobby in Korean: ask 제일 좋아하는 취미가 뭐예요? (jeil joahaneun chwimiga mwoyeyo).

Reading the forms is one thing; producing them on cue is another, so practise now.

Practice: Say It Aloud

Play the slow clip of 취미가 뭐예요?, repeat it three times, then choose a form for each situation. Answers follow.

1. You meet a classmate for the first time.
2. You ask your boss.
3. You ask a close friend.
4. How do you say "I like cooking"?

Answers

1. 취미가 뭐예요?
2. 취미가 어떻게 되세요?
3. 취미가 뭐야?
4. 저는 요리하는 걸 좋아해요.

The phrase flashcards drill all four lines with audio.

Related Phrases to Learn Next

Asking about hobbies sits with the other get-to-know-you phrases.

• What do you do in Korean: the next question, about work.
• Do you like kpop in Korean: a hobby question many learners ask.
• Hobby in Korean: the word 취미 in detail.

This guide belongs to the korean small talk collection. What this page does not cover: long hobby vocabulary lists and sports names. When in doubt, ask 취미가 뭐예요?, and you can ask what's your hobby in Korean to almost anyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say what's your hobby in Korean?

Say 취미가 뭐예요? (chwimiga mwoyeyo). For a senior or a guest, say 취미가 어떻게 되세요?. With a close friend, say 취미가 뭐야?. Answer with 저는 + verb + 는 걸 좋아해요.

How do you pronounce 취미가 뭐예요?

It is [취미가 뭐예요], with no sound change. Start 취 with rounded lips and then spread them. Revised Romanization writes chwimiga mwoyeyo. The end usually falls, because 뭐 is a question word.

What is the difference between 취미가 뭐예요? and 취미가 어떻게 되세요?

Both ask about a hobby. 취미가 뭐예요? is polite and direct. 취미가 어떻게 되세요? carries the honorific -시- and sounds more respectful. Use the second for a boss, an elder or a customer.

Is 취미가 뭐예요? formal or casual?

It is polite, in the 해요체 style. It is friendly and fits most situations. For close friends use 취미가 뭐야?, and for a formal interview use 취미가 무엇입니까?.

Can I use 취미가 뭐예요? with friends, elders and strangers?

Yes with strangers and colleagues, because -요 is polite. With elders, the respectful 취미가 어떻게 되세요? is safer. With close friends, drop the ending and say 취미가 뭐야?.

What is the most common mistake with what's your hobby in Korean?

The most common mistake is answering with only a noun, such as 영화. Say a full sentence, such as 영화 보는 걸 좋아해요. The second is pronouncing 어떻게 with a hard ㄱ instead of [어떠케].

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