趣味・娯楽

劇場げきじょうで有名ゆうめいな舞台ぶたいを鑑賞かんしょうした。

I saw a famous stage production at the theater.

Usage 劇場 is a theater for live performance: 劇場で観る, 劇場版 (the movie version of an anime or drama). A cinema is usually 映画館 (えいがかん). 舞台 (ぶたい) is the stage.

Remember it 劇 (drama) + 場 (place) → the place drama happens.

あの俳優はいゆうは演技力えんぎりょくが高たかくて人気にんきがある。

That actor is popular thanks to their excellent acting skills.

Usage 俳優 = actor, for men and women alike: 女優 (actress), 声優 (voice actor, a big career in anime). 役者 (やくしゃ) is a more traditional word, as in kabuki.

Remember it 俳 (performer) + 優 (actor, excellent) → an excellent performer.

この映画えいがの監督かんとくは世界的せかいてきに有名ゆうめいだ。

The director of this film is world famous.

Usage 監督 is a film director and also a sports manager or head coach: 映画監督, 野球の監督. As a verb, 監督する means to supervise: 工事を監督する.

Remember it 監 (to oversee) + 督 (to direct) → overseeing and directing.

その小説しょうせつは映画化えいがかされて大おおヒットした。

That novel was made into a film and became a huge hit.

Usage 小説 = novel or fiction: 小説家 (novelist), 推理小説 (mystery novel), 短編小説 (short story), ライトノベル (light novel). 映画化 = adaptation into a film.

Remember it 小 (small) + 説 (story, theory) → small stories, as opposed to grand histories.

雑誌ざっしを定期購読ていきこうどくしている。

I have a subscription to a magazine.

Usage 雑誌 = magazine: 週刊誌 (weekly), 月刊誌 (monthly), 定期購読 (subscription). 雑 means miscellaneous: 雑談 (small talk), 雑草 (weeds), 複雑 (complicated).

Remember it 雑 (miscellaneous) + 誌 (journal) → a journal of assorted things.

美術びじゅつ館かんで印象派いんしょうはの絵えを鑑賞かんしょうした。

At the art museum, I admired some Impressionist paintings.

Usage 美術 is fine art, especially visual art: 美術館 (art museum), 美術品 (artwork), 美術の授業 (art class). 芸術 (げいじゅつ) is art in the broadest sense, including music and theater.

Remember it 美 (beauty) + 術 (art, technique) → the art of beauty.

陶芸とうげい教室きょうしつで茶碗ちゃわんを作つくった。

I made a tea bowl in a pottery class.

Usage 陶芸 is the craft of pottery and ceramics: 陶芸家 (potter), 陶芸教室 (pottery class), 焼き物 (やきもの, pottery ware).

Remember it 陶 (pottery, clay) + 芸 (art) → the art of clay.

映画えいがを鑑賞かんしょうするのが週末しゅうまつの楽たのしみだ。

Watching movies is what I look forward to at weekends.

Usage 鑑賞 is appreciating art, music or film: 映画鑑賞 (the standard way to list 'movies' as a hobby), 音楽鑑賞, 絵画鑑賞. For sightseeing, use 観光; for watching sports, 観戦.

Remember it 鑑 (mirror, judge) + 賞 (to praise) → judging and appreciating.

ピアノピアノの演奏えんそうを聴衆ちょうしゅうに披露ひろうした。

I performed on the piano in front of an audience.

Usage 演奏 is playing a musical instrument: ピアノを演奏する, 演奏会 (concert), 生演奏 (live music). Singing is 歌う; acting is 演じる.

Remember it 演 (to perform) + 奏 (to play music) → performing by playing.

彼女は自分じぶんで作曲さっきょくした歌うたを発表はっぴょうした。

She released a song she composed herself.

Usage 作曲 is composing music: 作曲家 (composer). The chain from song to stage: 作詞 (さくし, writing lyrics), 作曲 (composing), 編曲 (arranging), 演奏 (performing).

Remember it 作 (to make) + 曲 (tune) → making a tune.

クラシック曲きょくをジャズ風ふうに編曲へんきょくした。

I arranged a classical piece in a jazz style.

Usage 編曲 is arranging an existing piece: 編曲する, 編曲家 (arranger). The original is 原曲 (げんきょく). アレンジ is the everyday loanword.

Remember it 編 (to compile, weave) + 曲 (tune) → weaving a tune into a new form.

即興そっきょうでピアノピアノを演奏えんそうする技術ぎじゅつがすごい。

The skill of improvising on the piano is amazing.

Usage 即興 = improvisation: 即興で演奏する, 即興劇 (improv theater), 即興で歌う. アドリブ is the casual loanword from ad lib.

Remember it 即 (on the spot) + 興 (inspiration) → inspiration on the spot.

学校がっこうの文化祭ぶんかさいで合唱がっしょうに参加さんかした。

I sang in the choir at the school festival.

Usage 合唱 = choral singing: 合唱団 (choir), 合唱コンクール (a choir contest, a big event in Japanese schools). 合奏 (がっそう) is an instrumental ensemble.

Remember it 合 (together) + 唱 (to sing) → singing together.

この映画えいがの脚本きゃくほんは有名ゆうめいな作家さっかが書かいた。

The screenplay for this film was written by a famous writer.

Usage 脚本 = script or screenplay: 脚本家 (scriptwriter), 脚本を書く. シナリオ is the common loanword. 台本 (だいほん) is the script actors hold in rehearsal.

Remember it 脚 (leg, foundation) + 本 (book) → the book a production stands on.

あの俳優はいゆうが主演しゅえんする映画えいがは必かならず見みる。

I always go to see films starring that actor.

Usage 主演 is playing the lead role: 主演する, 主演俳優 (lead actor), 主演男優賞 (Best Actor award). A supporting role is 助演 (じょえん).

Remember it 主 (main) + 演 (to perform) → the main performer.

そのミュージカルは今月こんげつ上演じょうえんされる。

That musical will be staged this month.

Usage 上演 is staging a play or live show: 上演中 (now showing), 上演時間 (running time). Films are 上映 (じょうえい), with 映 for projection.

Remember it 上 (up, onto) + 演 (to perform) → putting a performance up on the stage.

映画えいが批評ひひょうを読よんでから見みに行いった。

I read a film review before I went to see it.

Usage 批評 is critique or review: 批評家 (critic), 映画批評, 文芸批評. 批判 (ひはん) is criticism in the negative sense; 批評 weighs good and bad.

Remember it 批 (to judge) + 評 (to evaluate) → judging and evaluating.

書道しょどうを習ならい始はじめて筆ふでの使つかい方かたを学まなんでいる。

I've started learning calligraphy and am learning how to use a brush.

Usage 書道 is Japanese calligraphy with brush and ink: 筆 (ふで, brush), 墨 (すみ, ink), 半紙 (はんし, calligraphy paper). 書き初め is the first calligraphy of the New Year.

Remember it 書 (to write) + 道 (way) → the way of writing. One of the Japanese arts called '道'.

華道かどうは花はなを美うつくしく生いける日本にほんの伝統でんとう芸術げいじゅつだ。

Kado is a traditional Japanese art of arranging flowers beautifully.

Usage 華道, also called 生け花 (いけばな), is the art of flower arrangement: 花を生ける (arrange flowers). It sits alongside 茶道 and 書道 as a classic Japanese art.

Remember it 華 (flower, splendor) + 道 (way) → the way of flowers.

茶道さどうは精神せいしんを落おち着つかせる効果こうかがある。

The tea ceremony has a calming effect on the mind.

Usage 茶道 (さどう or ちゃどう) is the tea ceremony: 茶室 (tea room), 抹茶 (powdered green tea). Its spirit is summed up in 一期一会 (いちごいちえ): treasure each meeting, for it will never come again.

Remember it 茶 (tea) + 道 (way) → the way of tea.

武道ぶどうの精神せいしんは礼儀れいぎを重おもんじることだ。

The spirit of the martial arts is to value courtesy.

Usage 武道 covers Japanese martial arts: 柔道 (judo), 剣道 (kendo), 空手 (karate), 弓道 (archery), 合気道 (aikido). They stress 礼 (respect) as much as technique. 武道館 is the famous hall in Tokyo.

Remember it 武 (martial) + 道 (way) → the martial way.

将棋しょうぎは戦略せんりゃく思考しこうを鍛きたえるゲームだ。

Shogi is a game that trains strategic thinking.

Usage 将棋 is Japanese chess. You say 将棋を指す (さす), not 打つ. Captured pieces can be dropped back into play on your side. 棋士 (きし) is a professional player.

Remember it 将 (general) + 棋 (board game) → the board game of generals.

囲碁いごはルールルールは単純たんじゅんだが奥おくが深ふかい。

Go has simple rules but great depth.

Usage 囲碁 (often just 碁) is the board game Go: 碁を打つ (play Go), 碁石 (stones), 碁盤 (board). Note: Go is 打つ, shogi is 指す.

Remember it 囲 (to surround) + 碁 (Go) → the game of surrounding territory.

俳句はいくは5・7・5の音節おんせつからなる詩しだ。

A haiku is a poem made up of 5-7-5 syllables.

Usage 俳句 is a 5-7-5 poem that must include a 季語 (きご), a seasonal word. 松尾芭蕉 (Matsuo Basho) is its most famous master. 川柳 (せんりゅう) uses the same form for humor.

Remember it 俳 (humorous, playful) + 句 (verse) → a playful verse.

落語らくごは一人ひとりで何人なんにんもの登場人物とうじょうじんぶつを演えんじる芸能げいのうだ。

Rakugo is a performing art in which one person plays many characters.

Usage 落語 is traditional comic storytelling: one performer kneels on stage with only a fan and a cloth as props. 落語家 (rakugo performer), 寄席 (よせ, a rakugo theater). The punchline is the オチ.

Remember it 落 (to fall, drop) + 語 (story) → a story that ends with a drop, the punchline.

歌舞伎かぶきはユネスコユネスコの無形むけい文化遺産ぶんかいさんに登録とうろくされている。

Kabuki is registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Usage 歌舞伎 is classical theater with elaborate costumes and makeup (隈取り, くまどり), performed entirely by men. 歌舞伎座 is the main kabuki theater in Tokyo's Ginza.

Remember it 歌 (song) + 舞 (dance) + 伎 (skill) → song, dance and skill.

能のうは室町時代むろまちじだいに完成かんせいした伝統でんとう芸能げいのうだ。

Noh is a traditional performing art that took its finished form in the Muromachi period.

Usage 能 is the oldest major Japanese theater, slow and solemn, with masks (能面, のうめん). The comic interludes performed between noh plays are 狂言 (きょうげん). Together they are 能楽.

Remember it 能 (ability, skill) → the art of pure skill. The same kanji as 能力 (ability).

手芸しゅげいクラブクラブで刺繍ししゅうや編み物あみものを楽たのしんでいる。

I enjoy embroidery and knitting in the handicraft club.

Usage 手芸 covers needlecraft: 刺繍 (ししゅう, embroidery), 編み物 (あみもの, knitting), パッチワーク. 工芸 (こうげい) is craft more broadly, such as lacquer or metalwork.

Remember it 手 (hand) + 芸 (art) → art made by hand.

木工もっこうで棚たなを自分じぶんで作つくった。

I made a shelf myself through woodworking.

Usage 木工 is woodworking: 木工品 (wooden crafts), 木工職人 (woodworker). DIY (ディーアイワイ) woodworking is a popular hobby in Japan.

Remember it 木 (wood) + 工 (craft, work) → working with wood.

盆栽ぼんさいは世界中せかいじゅうで愛好家あいこうかが増ふえている。

The number of bonsai enthusiasts is growing all over the world.

Usage 盆栽 is the art of growing miniature trees in pots, a word English borrowed directly. 盆栽を育てる (grow bonsai), 盆栽を手入れする (tend bonsai).

Remember it 盆 (tray, pot) + 栽 (to plant) → a plant in a tray.

プラモデルプラモデルはプラスチックプラスチック模型もけいの略りゃくだ。

'Puramoderu' is short for plastic model.

Usage 模型 is a scale model: 鉄道模型 (model railway), 模型飛行機. プラモデル (plastic model kits) and フィギュア (figures) are big hobbies in Japan.

Remember it 模 (to copy) + 型 (form, mold) → a copy of the form.

同人誌どうじんしをコミケコミケで販売はんばいした。

I sold my self-published fanzine at Comiket.

Usage 同人誌 are self-published works, often fan manga, sold at events like コミケ (Comic Market) in Tokyo, the world's largest. 同人 means people who share a passion.

Remember it 同人 (like-minded people) + 誌 (magazine) → a magazine made by like-minded people.

あの料理人りょうりにんの腕前うでまえはすばらしい。

That chef's skill is superb.

Usage 腕前 is practical skill: 腕前を見せる (show what you can do), 腕前が上がる. 腕 alone also means skill: 腕がいい (skilled), 腕を磨く (hone your skills).

Remember it 腕 (arm) + 前 (in front) → what your arms can do in front of others.

毎日まいにち練習れんしゅうしてギターギターが上達じょうたつした。

I practiced every day and got better at the guitar.

Usage 上達する = to improve at a skill: 日本語が上達する, 上達が早い (quick to improve). Use it for skills; for health or a situation, use 良くなる or 改善する.

Remember it 上 (up) + 達 (to reach) → reaching higher.

この技術ぎじゅつを習得しゅうとくするには時間じかんがかかる。

It takes time to master this technique.

Usage 習得する = to acquire or master a skill: 技術を習得する, 言語習得 (language acquisition). 学習 is the process of learning; 習得 is actually getting it.

Remember it 習 (to learn) + 得 (to obtain) → learning until it's yours.

結婚披露宴けっこんひろうえんに招待しょうたいされた。

I was invited to a wedding reception.

Usage 披露 is showing something to an audience: 腕前を披露する (show off your skills), 新曲を披露する (debut a new song). 披露宴 (ひろうえん) is a wedding reception.

Remember it 披 (to open up) + 露 (to expose) → opening up and revealing to everyone.

彼は切手きってのコレクターコレクターとして知しられている。

He is known as a stamp collector.

Usage コレクター = collector: 切手コレクター (stamp collector). コレクション is the collection. 収集家 (しゅうしゅうか) is the formal Japanese word.

Remember it From English 'collector'.

私はインドア派インドアはなので家いえで本ほんを読よむのが好すきだ。

I'm a homebody, so I like reading books at home.

Usage インドア派 = someone who prefers indoor hobbies. The suffix 派 means type or camp: 犬派 (a dog person), 猫派 (a cat person), 朝型 vs 夜型 (morning vs night person).

Remember it インドア (indoor) + 派 (faction) → the indoor camp.

彼はアウトドア派アウトドアはでキャンプや登山とざんが趣味しゅみだ。

He's the outdoorsy type, and his hobbies are camping and mountain climbing.

Usage アウトドア派 = someone who loves the outdoors: キャンプ, 登山 (とざん, climbing), 釣り. Its opposite is インドア派. アウトドア alone means outdoor activities: アウトドア用品 (outdoor gear).

Remember it アウトドア (outdoor) + 派 (faction) → the outdoor camp.

クラシック音楽おんがくの愛好家あいこうかが集あつまるコンサートだ。

It's a concert that brings together lovers of classical music.

Usage 愛好家 is an enthusiast or devotee, more formal than ファン: 音楽愛好家, 鉄道愛好家 (railway enthusiast). マニア and オタク suggest more intense passion.

Remember it 愛 (love) + 好 (liking) + 家 (person) → a person who loves and likes something.