楽しむ・愉しむ|たのしむtanoshimu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
楽しむ楽しむ is the most common written form and the one beginners should use. It is written with kanji and kana, so use it in your own writing.
愉しむ愉しむ is a rarely used written variant of 楽しむ. You may encounter it occasionally, but beginners should choose 楽しむ instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto enjoy; to take pleasure in; to have a good time; to have fun; to amuse oneself
- godan verb, transitive verbto look forward to
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 楽しむ（たのしむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 楽しみます（たのしみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 楽しまない（たのしまない） |
| polite (masen) | 楽しみません（たのしみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 楽しまず・楽しまぬ（たのしまず・たのしまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 楽しんだ（たのしんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 楽しみました（たのしみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 楽しまなかった（たのしまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 楽しみませんでした（たのしみませんでした） |
| Te form | 楽しんで（たのしんで） |
| Potential | 楽しめる（たのしめる） |
| Passive | 楽しまれる（たのしまれる） |
| Causative | 楽しませる（たのしませる） |
| Causative passive | 楽しませられる・楽しまされる（たのしませられる・たのしまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 楽しめば（たのしめば） |
| tara | 楽しんだら（たのしんだら） |
| Volitional | 楽しもう（たのしもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 楽しみましょう（たのしみましょう） |
| Imperative | 楽しめ（たのしめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymエンジョイCasualLoanword for enjoying something to the fullest, as in 「夏をエンジョイする」. Casual and light in feel; fine in speech but far less common than 「楽しむ」.
- Synonym面白がるおもしろがるNeutralFor finding something amusing, often with a nuance of gawking at it or making fun of it, as in 「人の失敗を面白がる」.
- Synonym享受きょうじゅWrittenA written, formal word for enjoying benefits or rights one is granted, as in 「恩恵を享受する」.
- Synonym味わうあじわうNeutralFor savoring something slowly or experiencing it firsthand, as in 「料理を味わう」; can also be used of hardship. 「楽しむ」 centers on having fun.
- RelatedたしなむWrittenA written, formal word for enjoying something in moderation as a refined pursuit, as in 「お酒を嗜む」「茶道を嗜む」.
- Antonym苦しむくるしむNeutralAntonym of 「楽しむ」: to suffer or be in pain, as in 「病に苦しむ」.
- Antonym悩むなやむNeutralAntonym of 「楽しむ」: to be troubled or agonize over something, as in 「進路に悩む」.
Default to 「楽しむ」 for enjoying something. 「エンジョイ」 adds a casual, light feel; 「味わう」 is for savoring; 「享受」 is formal for enjoying benefits; 「嗜む」 for moderate, refined pastimes. 「苦しむ」 and 「悩む」 are opposites: suffering and worrying.
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
