Word
物好き
Meaning in English(idle) curiosity
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
物好き means a person who is especially fond of things, often enjoying odd or collectible items; the term conveys a mild, humorous nuance rather than a formal label.
Main meanings
- fondness for objects or curiosities; describes a person who enjoys collecting or admiring items
- humorous or affectionate nuance; often used to indicate whimsy or light eccentricity
- as a modifier, expresses a person’s general inclination rather than a specific object
How to use it
Used as a noun and as a な-adjective (物好きな), in casual speech and light writing; typically describes a person’s hobbies, preferences, or eccentric tastes rather than objects themselves.
Variants and close terms
- 好き者 (すきもの) — a person who likes things; nuance of having a liking or preference
- 物嫌い (ものぎらい) — opposite meaning, dislikes things
- 珍奇好き (ちんきずき) — fond of rare or odd items
Composition
- 物: thing, object
- 好き: liking
- the combination forms a noun indicating a penchant for things; rendaku causes 物 + 好き to become monozuki
Etymology
物 = thing, object; 好き = liking; together they denote a liking for things; the pronunciation changes via rendaku to ものずき (monozuki).
Word class
Noun, Na-adjective (名詞、な形容動詞)