楽しいです
tanoshii desu
The English phrase "it is fun" is translated into Japanese as 楽しいです (tanoshii desu).
The phrase is used to describe an activity or experience that provides enjoyment. While it focuses on the sense of enjoyment, it is a distinct concept from expressions that mean something is interesting or funny.
Which one should you use?
楽しい (tanoshii) specifically describes an experience that is fun or enjoyable.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite and formal way to express that something is fun, use 楽しいです. This is suitable for speaking to strangers or superiors. In casual settings, such as when speaking with friends or family, you can drop the desu to use the informal version, 楽しい. For very casual or colloquial situations, you might also encounter おもろい. Additionally, おもしろいです is a standard formal expression used to say something is fun, interesting or entertaining.
How do you pronounce it?
tanoshii desu
Did you know?
- While 楽しい describes an experience, the word おもしろい comes from the words for 'face' and 'interesting'. It originally described the feeling of seeing something unexpected or curious, which is why it can mean both 'funny' and 'intellectually stimulating'.
- When using 楽しい to describe a party or event, Japanese speakers often avoid saying it is 'fun' to the host's face in the present tense. Instead, they often say 楽しかったです (it was fun) as they leave to show gratitude for the completed experience.
- Japanese has a distinct difference between 楽しい (tanoshii), which is the joy you feel during an activity, and 嬉しい (ureshii), which is the joy you feel when something good happens to you.
Examples in context
- この映画はとてもおもしろいです。This movie is very interesting/fun.
- ミュージカルを観るのがおもしろいですよ。Watching musicals is fun/interesting, you know.
- このゲームは楽しいですよ。This game is fun.
- ピクニックに行くのはいつも楽しいですね。Going on a picnic is always fun, isn't it?
- 今日の映画、めっちゃおもろいわ！Today's movie is so fun/interesting!
- 遊園地で乗り物に乗るの、おもろすぎ！Riding attractions at the amusement park is too much fun!
- 音楽フェス、楽しいなあ！Music festivals are so fun!
- バーベキュー、めっちゃ楽しいやん！BBQs are super fun!
- 旅行はとても楽しいです。Ryokou wa totemo tanoshii desu.Traveling is very fun.
- 料理を作るのは楽しいです。Ryouri o tsukuru no wa tanoshii desu.Cooking is fun.
Example conversation
Youta and Misaki are talking about a new hobby.
- 陽太 Yota新しい趣味はどうですか？Atarashii shumi wa dou desu ka?How is your new hobby?
- 美咲 Misakiとても楽しいです！Totemo tanoshii desu!It is very fun!
- 陽太 Yotaそれはよかったですね。Sore wa yokatta desu ne.That's good to hear.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、毎日楽しいです。Hai, mainichi tanoshii desu.Yes, it is fun every day.
