How to say "leisure" in Japanese

• 暇ひまJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for free time: it matches 'leisure' only loosely, as being free or unoccupied. Typical when saying you have time off or asking whether someone is free.
  仕事しごとは楽らくで、暇ひまがたくさんあります。↗

  My job is easy and I have a lot of free time.
• レジャーJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounLeisure in the sense of recreation: activities and pastimes enjoyed in time off, rather than the free time itself. Typical of talk about travel, sports and entertainment, and often of advertising.
  彼女かのじょはここにレジャーで来きたのですか。↗

  Did she come here to relax?
• 余暇よかJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveLeisure time as a whole: the time left when work and duties are done. The natural choice when the topic is how that time is spent, rather than simply whether one is free.
  ユリコは余暇よかに花はなを生いける。↗

  Yuriko arranges flowers in her spare time.

Choose 暇 for simply having free time, 「レジャー」 for leisure as recreation and entertainment, and 余暇 for leisure time as a subject of discussion, especially time away from work.

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

• 暇ひまspare time
• レジャーleisure
• 余暇よかleisure
• いとま(spare) time
• 閑暇かんかleisure
• 閑日月かんじつげつleisure
• 閑かんspare time
• お暇おひまfree time
• 娯遊ごゆうamusement
• 手透きてすきleisure