私の趣味は執筆です
watashi no shumi wa shippitsu desu
In Japanese, "my hobby is writing" is said as 私の趣味は執筆です (watashi no shumi wa shippitsu desu).
This phrase is used to inform someone that writing is the activity you enjoy doing in your free time. The word 執筆 specifically implies a level of serious or professional authorship, such as writing books, articles or essays, rather than casual note-taking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down literally into 私の (my) 趣味 (hobby) は (topic marker) 執筆 (writing/authorship) and です (is).
Which one should you use?
While 執筆 refers to the formal act of authorship, you can also use 書くこと to mean "the act of writing" in a more general sense, which is suitable for any kind of writing, such as journaling.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In standard social settings, it is often even more natural and polite to omit the subject 私の (my) and simply say 趣味は執筆です.
How does it change in a sentence?
The sentence uses desu, which is a copula verb functioning as "is". The word watashi can mean "I" or "me".
How do you pronounce it?
watashi no shumi wa shippitsu desu
Did you know?
- The word 趣味 (hobby) is a loanword from the Chinese term for 'taste' or 'aesthetic judgment'. Originally, it described a person's refined taste in the arts rather than just a leisure activity.
- The word 執筆 contains the character 筆, which means 'brush', reflecting the historical transition from traditional calligraphy to modern professional writing.
- The term 趣味 (shumi) can describe a level of dedication that borders on obsession, moving beyond the casual English definition of a 'hobby'.
Examples in context
- 私の趣味は書くことです。My hobby is writing
- 私の趣味は執筆です。小説を書いています。Watashi no shumi wa shippitsu desu. Shousetsu o kaite imasu.My hobby is writing. I write novels.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are chatting about their interests.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さんは、暇な時に何をしますか？Misaki-san wa, hima na toki ni nani o shimasu ka?Misaki, what do you do in your free time?
- 美咲 Misaki私の趣味は執筆です。Watashi no shumi wa shippitsu desu.My hobby is writing.
- 陽太 Yotaすごいですね！何を書いているんですか？Sugoi desu ne! Nani o kaite iru n desu ka?That's amazing! What are you writing?
- 美咲 Misaki短い小説を書いています。Mijikai shousetsu o kaite imasu.I am writing short stories.
