Day 16: Hobbies & Free Time — Learn Chinese in 30 Days

What You’ll Learn Today

Talking about hobbies is the bridge to real friendship. Today’s vocabulary gives you everything you need to answer “What do you do in your free time?” and ask the same question back — a conversation starter that never gets old.

The Core Pattern: 我喜欢 + Activity

我喜欢 (wǒ xǐ huān) = “I like [to do something]”

• 我喜欢看电影。— I like watching movies.
• 我喜欢运动。— I like exercising.
• 我喜欢做饭。— I like cooking.

To say you love something: 我很喜欢 or 我爱

• 我爱旅游！— I love traveling!

To say you dislike something: 我不喜欢

• 我不喜欢唱歌。— I don’t like singing.

Popular Chinese Hobbies

Beyond today’s vocabulary, here are some activities you’ll encounter in Chinese culture:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
打麻将	dǎ má jiàng	Play mahjong
下棋	xià qí	Play chess
爬山	pá shān	Hiking / Mountain climbing
广场舞	guǎng chǎng wǔ	Square dancing (popular among older adults)
打篮球	dǎ lán qiú	Play basketball
踢足球	tī zú qiú	Play soccer
画画	huà huà	Draw / Paint
养花	yǎng huā	Grow flowers

Sentence Patterns

Pattern 1: Asking about hobbies

你有什么爱好？— Nǐ yǒu shén me ài hào? — What are your hobbies?

Pattern 2: Inviting someone to do something

你想一起去看电影吗？— Nǐ xiǎng yī qǐ qù kàn diàn yǐng ma? — Do you want to go watch a movie together?

Pattern 3: Expressing preference

我更喜欢在家看书。— Wǒ gèng xǐ huān zài jiā kàn shū. — I prefer reading at home.

Cultural Note

Karaoke (KTV) is a massively popular social activity in China — far beyond what Westerners typically associate with karaoke. Chinese KTV bars feature private rooms with professional sound systems, tambourines, and extensive song libraries. A typical outing might last 3–5 hours. Refusing an invitation to KTV might seem antisocial — at least give it one try.

Mahjong (麻将) is a tile-based game played by four players, deeply embedded in Chinese social culture. Weekend afternoons at a Chinese family gathering often involve mahjong. It’s worth learning — it’s a reliable social entry point.

Square dancing (广场舞) might make you smile — it’s a phenomenon where older Chinese women gather in public squares at dawn or dusk to dance in synchronized groups. It’s genuine community exercise and deeply beloved.

Practice Exercise

How do you say:

1. “I like listening to music.”
2. “What are your hobbies?”
3. “Do you want to play basketball together?”
4. “I love traveling, but I don’t like cooking.”

Answers: 1) 我喜欢听音乐。2) 你有什么爱好？3) 你想一起打篮球吗？4) 我爱旅游，但是我不喜欢做饭。