취미가 뭐예요?
Chwimiga mwoyeyo?
To ask "what are your hobbies?" in Korean, use 취미가 뭐예요? (Chwimiga mwoyeyo?)
This phrase is used to ask someone what activities they enjoy doing in their free time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 취미 (hobby), 가 (subject marker), 뭐 (what) and 예요 (is).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 취미가 뭐예요? uses the polite ending -예요, making it appropriate for strangers or people you are not close with. The informal version is 취미가 뭐야?
How does it change in a sentence?
Even though English uses the plural "hobbies", the Korean phrase uses the singular 취미 (hobby) to ask the question.
How do you pronounce it?
Chwimiga mwoyeyo?
Did you know?
- The word 취미 comes from Chinese characters meaning 'collecting' and 'taste'. It literally suggests the 'taste' or 'flavor' of a person's preferences.
- Because Korean culture emphasizes humility, it is common to answer this question by saying 특별한 취미는 없어요, which means 'I don't have any special hobbies', even if the person does.
- The concept of 'hobby' in Korea is often tied to the idea of 'self-development' (자기계발), so many people will answer with things like studying languages or exercising rather than purely passive entertainment.
Examples in context
- 취미가 뭐예요?chwimiga mwoyeyo?What are your hobbies?
- 실례지만, 취미가 뭐예요?sillyejiman, chwimiga mwoyeyo?Excuse me, but what are your hobbies?
- 혹시 취미가 뭐예요?hoksi chwimiga mwoyeyo?By any chance, what are your hobbies?
Example conversation
Two people are getting to know each other at a meet-up.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨, 취미가 뭐예요?Seoyeon ssi, chwimiga mwoyeyo?Seoyeon, what are your hobbies?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저는 영화 보는 것을 좋아해요.jeoneun yeonghwa boneun geoseul joahaeyo.I like watching movies.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말요? 저도 영화를 좋아해요.jeongmalyo? jeodo yeonghwareul joahaeyo.Really? I like movies too.
- 서연 Seo-yeon다음에 같이 영화 봐요.daeume gachi yeonghwa bwayo.Let's watch a movie together next time.
