How to say "interesting" in Japanese

• 面白いおもしろいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe all-purpose adjective for something that catches and holds your attention — a book, film, idea, or person — and the usual choice for 'interesting'; it can also mean 'funny', with context deciding.
  新聞しんぶんには何なんも面白おもしろいことは載のっていない。↗

  There is nothing interesting in the newspaper.
• 面白おもしろCommon
  prenominal modifierThe noun counterpart of the adjective, sharing its 'amusing, interesting' sense, but on its own it is seldom how you say something is interesting; it mostly appears inside compound expressions.

Use the adjective 「面白い」 whenever you want to say a book, film, person, or idea is interesting; the noun 面白 has the same meaning but is seldom used on its own, so the adjective is almost always your choice.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 面白いおもしろいinteresting
• 面白おもしろamusing
• おもろいinteresting
• おもしいinteresting
• 味のあるあじのあるinteresting (personality, turn of phrase, etc.)
• インタレスティングinteresting
• 意味深長いみしんちょうwith profound (and often hidden) meaning
• 意味深いみしんwith profound (often hidden) meaning