Japanese word

物好き

Pronunciation

Romajimonozuki

Meaning

  • nouneccentricity

Example

彼の物好きに驚きました。kare no mono zu ki ni odoro ki ma shi ta

I was surprised by his eccentricity.

Illustration for 物好き (eccentricity)

More examples

誰も試さない料理を注文するとは、彼も相当な物好きです。dare mo tame sa na i ryō ri o chū mon su ru to wa kare mo sō tō na mono zu ki de su

Ordering a dish that no one else will try is quite eccentric of him.

Core concept

It describes an unusual interest or preference that stands apart from what most people consider ordinary.

Common phrases

  • 生粋の物好きkissui no mono zu ki

    a true eccentric

  • 物好きの極みmono zu ki no kiwa mi

    the height of eccentricity

Similar words

酔狂suikyō: An odd interest or action pursued from personal whim rather than practical need.
風変わりfūgawari: A noticeably unusual quality in a person's behavior, style, or tastes.
奇矯kikyō: An unconventional quality shown in behavior, ideas, or personal tastes.

Definition in Japanese

普通とは異なることに興味を持ったり、変わったことを好んだりする性質。fu tsū to wa koto na ru ko to ni kyō mi o mo tta ri ka wa tta ko to o kono n da ri su ru sei shitsu

Word origin

The compound 物好き (monozuki) combines 物 (mono, "thing") and 好き (zuki, "liking"), giving the sense of an unusual liking for things.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 物好き (monozuki) often carries a mildly critical tone, so it can describe eccentricity without suggesting anything harmful or extreme.

Other meanings

  • strange tastenoun
  • idle curiositynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 物好き者monosukimonoeccentricnoun

Word lists with this word