爱好 (ài hào) — (verb) to like, to be fond of; (noun) hobby, interest

Definition

爱好 works as both a verb ('to like, be fond of') and a noun ('hobby, interest'). As a verb it sounds slightly more committed than 喜欢; as a noun it's the everyday word for 'hobby,' unlike 兴趣 which leans toward 'interest/curiosity.'

verb
to liketo be fond of
noun
hobbyinterest
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 爱好。
    Wǒ ài hào yùn dòng.
    I like sports.
  • 爱好？
    Nǐ de ài hào shì shén me?
    What's your hobby?
  • 爱好。
    Tā de ài hào shì kàn shū.
    His hobby is reading books.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

爱àilike
好hǎolike

爱 and 好 both express liking, and together they mean fondness or a hobby.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 愛; 爱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
旡
旡jì愛ài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 愛, an older shape paired 心 (heart) with 旡 as its sound part; later a foot-like 夊 was added below. The simplified 爱 is a later variant that replaces the lower part with 友.

Open 爱 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

好 joins 女 (woman) and 子 (child), understood as a woman with a child, linked to goodness or affection.

Open 好 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 2HSK 2.0 Level 3Hobbies & Pastimes5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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