楽しみ・愉しみ|たのしみtanoshimi[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
楽しみ楽しみ is the most common and standard form; beginners should use it as their default written form.
愉しみ愉しみ is a rarely used variant of 楽しみ; you may encounter it, but it is not the usual choice.
Definitions
- noun, na-adjectiveenjoyment; pleasure; amusement; delight; joy; fun; diversion; hobby
- noun, na-adjectiveanticipation; looking forward to; something to look forward to
Conjugation
| Plain form | 楽しみ（たのしみ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 楽しみです（たのしみです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 楽しみではない（たのしみではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 楽しみではありません（たのしみではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 楽しみだった（たのしみだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 楽しみではなかった（たのしみではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 楽しみで（たのしみで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 楽しみに（たのしみに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 楽しみなら（たのしみなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym喜びよろこびNeutralThe feeling of joy or delight, or a happy event itself, as in 「合格の喜び」. It centres on the joy felt; 「楽しみ」 is about fun or something you look forward to.
- Synonym遊びあそびNeutralPlay and games, as in 「子供の遊び」. It points to the activity of playing; 「楽しみ」 points to the pleasure or anticipation you feel.
- Synonym娯楽ごらくWrittenAmusement and entertainment in one's free time, as in 「娯楽施設」; leans toward written prose. Unlike 「楽しみ」, it cannot mean something you are looking forward to.
- Synonym興きょうWrittenWritten word for fun or interest, seen mostly in set phrases like 「興が乗る」 and 「余興」. It never expresses looking forward to something.
- Synonym愉快ゆかいNeutralMostly an adjectival noun describing a cheerful mood or fun atmosphere. 「楽しみ」 is a noun for the fun itself or something awaited.
- Synonym快楽かいらくWrittenWritten word for sensory pleasure, often tinged with desire, as in 「快楽主義」. 「楽しみ」 carries none of that shade.
- SynonymアミューズメントNeutralA loanword for amusement, mostly in compounds like 「アミューズメントパーク」 and 「アミューズメント施設」.
- Synonym慰みなぐさみWrittenWritten and old-fashioned: a pastime to fill or pass the time, as in 「お慰み」. In everyday speech you would say 「楽しみ」.
- Synonymお楽しみおたのしみCasualThe polite, conversational form of 「楽しみ」. Also used in 「お楽しみに」, telling someone to look forward to what is coming.
- Synonym悦楽えつらくWrittenWritten and literary: the pleasure of losing yourself in something. In daily speech, say 「楽しみ」.
- Synonym愉楽ゆらくWrittenWritten word for heartfelt pleasure; very rare. In everyday use, 「楽しみ」 is the natural choice.
- RelatedエンターテインメントNeutralA loanword for entertaining shows, works and activities, and for the entertainment industry; shortened to 「エンタメ」. 「楽しみ」 is the fun a person personally feels.
- RelatedレクリエーションWrittenA written/formal loanword for recreation: activities to rest and recharge, as in 「社員のレクリエーション」. It names the activity itself, not the pleasure felt.
- Related気晴らしきばらしNeutralA diversion to shake off a gloomy mood, as in 「気晴らしに散歩する」. The point is refreshing your mood, not the pleasure itself.
- Related憂さ晴らしうさばらしNeutralAmusement sought to forget your worries, as in 「憂さ晴らしに飲む」. Its whole purpose is blowing off steam, unlike general 「楽しみ」.
- Related快事かいじWrittenA written, old-fashioned word for a gratifying event, as in 「近来の快事」. It does not refer to something awaited.
- Related面白さおもしろさNeutralA noun for how interesting or appealing something is, as in 「仕事の面白さ」. 「楽しみ」 is the pleasure you yourself feel.
- Related逸楽いつらくWrittenWritten and disapproving: idle pursuit of pleasure, as in 「逸楽にふける」.
- Related慰めなぐさめNeutralComfort or consolation that soothes the heart, as in 「心の慰め」; unlike 「楽しみ」, it need not bring any fun or enjoyment at all.
- Related遊び事あそびごとNeutralGames and pastimes, with a casual feel; often set against serious business.
- Antonym苦しみくるしみNeutralThe antonym of 「楽しみ」: physical or mental pain and suffering.
- Antonym退屈たいくつNeutralThe antonym of 「楽しみ」: dullness and boredom, as in 「退屈な授業」.
Default to 「楽しみ」 for fun or something awaited. Pick 「喜び」 for joy, 「遊び」 for play, 「気晴らし」 or 「憂さ晴らし」 for lifting a low mood, 「娯楽」 or 「エンタメ」 for entertainment, and 「快楽」 for pleasure tinged with desire; 「苦しみ」 and 「退屈」 are the opposites. 「お楽しみ」 is the polite form (also 「お楽しみに」). Keep apart 「面白さ」, the appeal of the thing itself; 「慰め」, comfort that need not be fun; and 「逸楽」, disapproving self-indulgence. 「慰み」「悦楽」「愉楽」 are literary, and everyday speech uses 「楽しみ」 for them.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
