How to Say ‘What are your hobbies, Emily Smith?’ in Japanese
Emily Smith さんの趣味は何ですか。
Emily Smith san no shumi wa nan desu ka
[sahn no SHOO-mee wah nan dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Japanese often uses the person's name with さん where English says "you". Swap in anything: さんの仕事は何ですか "what's your job?".
🇯🇵 In Japan: Saying あなた "you" to a date can sound cold or overly direct, so using their name is the natural, friendly choice.
Phrase Breakdown
趣味は何ですか。
shumi wa nan desu ka
What is (your) hobby?
趣味 ('shumi') means hobby. は is read 'wa' as the topic marker. 何ですか ('nan desu ka') means 'what is it?' Let your voice rise slightly on か.
趣味は何ですか。
What is your hobby?
Words in this phrase
趣味
shumi
[SHOO-mee]
hobby
Noun for activities you enjoy in your free time.
私の趣味は読書です。
My hobby is reading.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker; as for
Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'
本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for giving me your time today.
何
nan
[nan]
what
何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.
何時に始まりますか。
What time does it start?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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