Learn Mandarin for Hobbies and Activities
Discussing your hobbies and activities is a great way to engage in conversations in Mandarin. Whether you’re into sports, music, reading, or any other activity, knowing the right words will help you express yourself clearly. In this section, we’ll cover some common Mandarin phrases and vocabulary related to hobbies and leisure activities.
1. Sports and Exercise
Sports and physical activities are popular topics of conversation. Whether you’re asking about someone’s favorite sport or discussing your own, knowing the Mandarin words for various sports and exercises will help you connect with others.
篮球 (Lánqiú) - Basketball
"篮球" (Lánqiú) refers to basketball. You can say, "我喜欢打篮球" (Wǒ xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú), meaning "I like to play basketball."
足球 (Zúqiú) - Soccer
"足球" (Zúqiú) is the word for soccer. A sentence example could be, "你喜欢踢足球吗?" (Nǐ xǐhuān tī zúqiú ma?), meaning "Do you like to play soccer?"
游泳 (Yóuyǒng) - Swimming
"游泳" (Yóuyǒng) means swimming. You can say, "我每天都去游泳" (Wǒ měitiān dōu qù yóuyǒng), meaning "I go swimming every day."
跑步 (Pǎobù) - Running
"跑步" (Pǎobù) means running. You can use this phrase in sentences like "我早上喜欢跑步" (Wǒ zǎoshang xǐhuān pǎobù), meaning "I like to run in the morning."
2. Creative Hobbies
Many people enjoy creative hobbies such as drawing, writing, or playing a musical instrument. These hobbies are perfect for casual conversations in Mandarin, allowing you to express your passions and learn new terms.
画画 (Huàhuà) - Drawing
"画画" (Huàhuà) means drawing or painting. To say "I like to draw," you can use "我喜欢画画" (Wǒ xǐhuān huàhuà).
写作 (Xiězuò) - Writing
"写作" (Xiězuò) refers to writing. If you enjoy writing, you could say, "我喜欢写作" (Wǒ xǐhuān xiězuò), meaning "I like writing."
弹钢琴 (Tán gāngqín) - Playing the Piano
"弹钢琴" (Tán gāngqín) means playing the piano. You can use this phrase to say, "我会弹钢琴" (Wǒ huì tán gāngqín), meaning "I can play the piano."
摄影 (Shèyǐng) - Photography
"摄影" (Shèyǐng) refers to photography. A possible sentence could be, "我喜欢摄影" (Wǒ xǐhuān shèyǐng), meaning "I enjoy photography."
3. Social and Group Activities
Social activities, such as going to parties, hanging out with friends, or attending events, are great ways to practice Mandarin. Here are some useful phrases for social situations and group activities.
聚会 (Jùhuì) - Party or Gathering
"聚会" (Jùhuì) means party or gathering. You can ask, "你要参加聚会吗?" (Nǐ yào cānjiā jùhuì ma?), meaning "Are you going to the party?"
看电影 (Kàn diànyǐng) - Watching Movies
"看电影" (Kàn diànyǐng) means watching movies. You can say, "我们今晚去看电影" (Wǒmen jīn wǎn qù kàn diànyǐng), meaning "We are going to watch a movie tonight."
旅行 (Lǚxíng) - Traveling
"旅行" (Lǚxíng) refers to traveling. A sentence example could be, "我喜欢旅行" (Wǒ xǐhuān lǚxíng), meaning "I like to travel."
吃饭 (Chīfàn) - Eating Out
"吃饭" (Chīfàn) means eating out. If you’re inviting someone, you can say, "一起去吃饭吧!" (Yīqǐ qù chīfàn ba!), meaning "Let’s go eat together!"