àihào: 爱好 - Hobby, Interest

• Keywords: 爱好, aihao, Chinese for hobby, how to say my hobby in Chinese, what are your hobbies in Chinese, Chinese interests, 爱好 vs 兴趣, Chinese culture hobbies, HSK 2 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to use “爱好” (àihào), the essential Chinese word for “hobby” or “interest.” This page breaks down the characters, explains its cultural significance in making friends, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover the key difference between 爱好 (àihào) and 兴趣 (xìngqù) to avoid common mistakes and talk about your hobbies in Chinese like a native.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): àihào
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A hobby, a personal interest, or an activity one is fond of.
• In a Nutshell: “爱好” (àihào) is the most direct and common way to say “hobby” in Chinese. It refers to a specific activity you enjoy and regularly do in your spare time, like reading, hiking, or playing an instrument. Asking about someone's 爱好 is one of the most frequent icebreakers in Chinese conversation, making it a crucial word for any beginner.

• 爱 (ài): To love. This character is built around the “heart” radical (心) in the middle, indicating a strong emotion or affection.
• 好 (hào): To be fond of, to like. Crucially, this is the 4th tone `hào`, not the common 3rd tone `hǎo` (good). The `hào` pronunciation specifically means “to have a liking for something.”
• The characters combine to mean “love to be fond of,” which perfectly describes a cherished activity or hobby. It implies a deeper passion than simply liking something.

Asking “What's your hobby?” (你的爱好是什么？ - Nǐ de àihào shì shénme?) is as common in China as it is in the West and serves as a friendly, safe way to get to know someone. It's a standard topic for small talk between new classmates, colleagues, or potential friends. While Western culture often emphasizes individualistic and unique hobbies, in China, there's a strong appreciation for hobbies that involve groups or have a component of self-cultivation. Traditional hobbies like calligraphy (书法 - shūfǎ), Tai Chi (太极 - tàijí), or playing Go (围棋 - wéiqí) are highly respected as they are believed to build discipline, patience, and character. Furthermore, sharing a common 爱好 can be a powerful tool for building 关系 (guānxi), or social connections. Playing sports like basketball or badminton, singing karaoke (KTV), or playing mahjong (麻将 - májiàng) with colleagues or business partners are popular ways to strengthen professional and personal bonds outside of a formal setting.

• As a Noun (Most Common): In everyday conversation, 爱好 is overwhelmingly used as a noun to mean “hobby.”
  • e.g., 我的爱好是看电影。(Wǒ de àihào shì kàn diànyǐng.) - “My hobby is watching movies.”
• As a Verb (More Formal): 爱好 can also function as a verb meaning “to be fond of” or “to love (an activity).” This usage is slightly more formal or literary than the common verb 喜欢 (xǐhuān - to like).
  • e.g., 他从小就爱好音乐。(Tā cóngxiǎo jiù àihào yīnyuè.) - “He has been fond of music since he was a child.”
  • In daily speech, you are more likely to hear: 他从小就喜欢音乐。(Tā cóngxiǎo jiù xǐhuān yīnyuè.)
• On Social Media and Dating Profiles: It's standard practice for people to list their 爱好 on their social media bios or dating app profiles to show their personality and find people with similar interests.

• Example 1:
  • 你的爱好是什么？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de àihào shì shénme?
  • English: What is your hobby?
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and essential question you need to know. It's a perfect conversation starter.
• Example 2:
  • 我的爱好是看书和听音乐。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de àihào shì kàn shū hé tīng yīnyuè.
  • English: My hobbies are reading books and listening to music.
  • Analysis: A standard, simple answer. You can list your hobbies using 和 (hé - and) or 、 (the enumeration comma).
• Example 3:
  • 他有很多爱好，比如摄影、爬山和钓鱼。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒu hěn duō àihào, bǐrú shèyǐng, páshān hé diàoyú.
  • English: He has many hobbies, for example, photography, hiking, and fishing.
  • Analysis: The word 比如 (bǐrú - for example) is great for listing multiple hobbies.
• Example 4:
  • 我们有共同的爱好，所以很快就成了朋友。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yǒu gòngtóng de àihào, suǒyǐ hěn kuài jiù chéng le péngyǒu.
  • English: We have common hobbies, so we quickly became friends.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the social function of hobbies. 共同 (gòngtóng) means “common” or “shared.”
• Example 5:
  • 培养一个爱好对你的身心健康有好处。
  • Pinyin: Péiyǎng yí ge àihào duì nǐ de shēnxīn jiànkāng yǒu hǎochu.
  • English: Cultivating a hobby is good for your physical and mental health.
  • Analysis: 培养 (péiyǎng) means “to cultivate” or “to foster,” and is the standard verb to use when talking about developing a new hobby.
• Example 6:
  • 他从小就爱好书法。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóngxiǎo jiù àihào shūfǎ.
  • English: He has been fond of calligraphy since he was a child.
  • Analysis: Here, 爱好 is used as a formal verb. It implies a long-standing and serious passion for the activity.
• Example 7:
  • 这只是我的个人爱好，算不上专业。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì wǒ de gèrén àihào, suàn bu shàng zhuānyè.
  • English: This is just my personal hobby, it can't be considered professional.
  • Analysis: A humble way to talk about a skill you have. 算不上 (suàn bu shàng) means “doesn't count as” or “can't be considered.”
• Example 8:
  • 除了工作，你还有别的爱好吗？
  • Pinyin: Chúle gōngzuò, nǐ hái yǒu bié de àihào ma?
  • English: Besides work, do you have any other hobbies?
  • Analysis: 除了… (chúle…) is a useful pattern meaning “besides” or “apart from.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的主要爱好是收集旧硬币。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zhǔyào àihào shì shōují jiù yìngbì.
  • English: His main hobby is collecting old coins.
  • Analysis: 主要 (zhǔyào) means “main” or “primary,” used to specify someone's most important hobby.
• Example 10:
  • 我对画画没什么爱好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì huàhuà méishénme àihào.
  • English: I don't really have a hobby of painting / I'm not really into painting.
  • Analysis: The structure “对 [something] 没什么爱好” (duì… méishénme àihào) is a polite way to say you are not interested in a particular activity as a hobby.

• 爱好 (àihào) vs. 兴趣 (xìngqù): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 爱好 (àihào) is a noun for a concrete activity you do. It's a hobby.
    • Correct: 我的爱好是游泳。(Wǒ de àihào shì yóuyǒng.) - My hobby is swimming.
    • Incorrect: 我的兴趣是游泳。(Wǒ de xìngqù shì yóuyǒng.)
  • 兴趣 (xìngqù) is a noun for the abstract feeling of interest or a general field of interest. It's often used with the structure “对…有兴趣” (duì… yǒu xìngqù - to have an interest in…).
    • Correct: 我对历史很感兴趣。(Wǒ duì lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqù.) - I am very interested in history.
    • Incorrect: 我对历史很有爱好。(Wǒ duì lìshǐ hěn yǒu àihào.)
• Pronunciation of 好: Remember, in this word, 好 is pronounced hào (4th tone), not hǎo (3rd tone). Saying “àihǎo” is a dead giveaway that you are a beginner. It changes the meaning from “hobby” to “love being good,” which doesn't make sense.
• Using 爱好 as a Verb: While grammatically correct, using 爱好 as a verb (“我爱好运动”) is less common in casual speech than simply saying “我喜欢运动” (Wǒ xǐhuān yùndòng - I like sports). Stick to using 爱好 as a noun (“My hobby is…”) until you have a better feel for formal vs. informal language.

• 兴趣 (xìngqù) - Interest. The feeling or general field you are interested in, distinct from the specific activity (爱好).
• 喜欢 (xǐhuān) - To like. The most common, all-purpose verb for liking people, things, or activities. Less formal than the verb use of 爱好.
• 特长 (tècháng) - Specialty, talent, forte. A hobby that you are particularly skilled at. If your 爱好 is singing, and you are very good, singing is your 特长.
• 消遣 (xiāoqiǎn) - Pastime, diversion. Refers to something you do to kill time, often with less passion than an 爱好.
• 娱乐 (yúlè) - Entertainment, amusement. A broader category that includes hobbies, but also things like watching TV or going to a concert.
• 才艺 (cáiyì) - Talent and skill. Often refers to artistic skills like singing, dancing, or playing an instrument, which can be hobbies.
• 运动 (yùndòng) - Sports, exercise. A very common category of 爱好.
• 习惯 (xíguàn) - Habit. A routine you do regularly, which may or may not be a hobby (e.g., drinking coffee in the morning is a 习惯, but probably not an 爱好).