Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): Meaning, Pronunciation, Sentences & Usage | HSK 1
The Chinese word 爱好 (àihào) is one of the most practical and friendly words you will learn as a beginner. It means hobby or interest, and it is used all the time in daily conversations, self introductions, and simple small talk.
If you are studying HSK 1 Chinese vocabulary, mastering 爱好 (àihào) will help you talk about yourself naturally and confidently. In this guide, we will explore the meaning, pronunciation, sentence patterns, cultural usage, and real-life examples of the Chinese word 爱好, with pinyin included everywhere to make learning easy and enjoyable.
Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): Basic Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 爱好 (àihào) |
| Pronunciation / Pinyin | ài hào |
| English Meaning | hobby, interest |
| HSK Level | 1 |
| Total Strokes | 爱 (ài) 10 + 好 (hào) 6 |
| Radicals | 爫 (zhǎo), 女 (nǚ) |
| Traditional Chinese | 愛好 (àihào) |
| Example Sentence (中文) | 我的爱好是看书 (wǒ de àihào shì kàn shū) |
| Example Sentence (Pinyin) | Wǒ de àihào shì kàn shū |
| Example Sentence (English) | My hobby is reading |
Learn & Practice Writing Chinese Character 爱
Learn & Practice Writing Chinese Character 好
Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): Pronunciation Explained
The Chinese word 爱好 (àihào) has two syllables:
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爱 (ài) fourth tone, falling tone
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好 (hào) fourth tone, falling tone
Say it clearly as ài hào, with both tones strong and clean. Avoid confusing 好 (hào) with 好 (hǎo), which has a different tone and meaning.
Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): Meaning and How It Is Used
The Chinese word 爱好 (àihào) means:
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hobby
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personal interest
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something you enjoy doing in your free time
It is commonly used when:
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introducing yourself
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chatting with friends
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answering basic questions
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talking about daily life
For example:
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我的爱好是运动 (wǒ de àihào shì yùndòng)
My hobby is sports
Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): Common Sentence Pattern
A very common beginner sentence structure is:
我的爱好是 + activity
wǒ de àihào shì + activity
Examples:
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我的爱好是听音乐 (wǒ de àihào shì tīng yīnyuè)
My hobby is listening to music -
我的爱好是学习汉语 (wǒ de àihào shì xuéxí Hànyǔ)
My hobby is studying Chinese
This pattern is extremely useful for HSK 1 speaking and writing.
Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): Relationship with 爱 (ài)
The word 爱好 (àihào) comes from:
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爱 (ài) meaning love
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好 (hào) meaning fond of
Together, 爱好 (àihào) describes something you love doing regularly, but it is much lighter than romantic love. It feels natural, friendly, and safe to use in everyday conversations.
Cultural Notes on 爱好 (àihào)
In Chinese culture, talking about 爱好 (àihào) is a polite and common way to start conversations.
People often ask:
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你的爱好是什么 (nǐ de àihào shì shénme)
What is your hobby?
Sharing hobbies helps:
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build relationships
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show personality
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avoid overly personal topics
Chinese Word 爱好 (àihào): More Example Sentences
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我的爱好是旅行 (wǒ de àihào shì lǚxíng)
My hobby is traveling -
她的爱好是做饭 (tā de àihào shì zuò fàn)
Her hobby is cooking -
他的爱好很多 (tā de àihào hěn duō)
He has many hobbies -
我喜欢这个爱好 (wǒ xǐhuan zhège àihào)
I like this hobby
Learning Tip for Beginners
✔ Use 爱好 (àihào) when talking about hobbies
✔ Use 喜欢 (xǐhuan) to express liking something
✔ Use 爱 (ài) only for deep emotional love
This clear separation helps you sound natural and confident in Mandarin.