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嗜好 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嗜好shìhàohobbyHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #10466, Very Hard
嗜好shìhàoindulgenceHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #10466, Very Hard
嗜好shìhàohabitHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #10466, Very Hard
嗜好shìhàoaddictionHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #10466, Very Hard
shìhào(shi4hao4)shi hao T4
  1. 1hobby
  2. 2indulgence
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March 24, 2026

嗜好shìhào(shi4hao4)

嗜好 (shìhào) refers to a strong liking or preference for something, often used to describe hobbies or indulgences. It can also imply a habit or addiction to certain activities or substances, emphasizing the depth of the interest or dependence.

Strokes19Frequency#10466DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, having a 嗜好 is often encouraged as part of a balanced lifestyle, with many people participating in activities like calligraphy, tea tasting, or traditional arts as hobbies.

Memory tip

To remember 嗜好, think of a 'she' who has a 'hao' (好) time indulging in her favorite hobbies. The character 嗜 has a mouth radical (口), hinting at taste or preference, while 好 conveys the idea of something good or enjoyable.

Meanings of 嗜好

shìhào(shi4hao4)
1hobby
2indulgence
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About 嗜好

嗜好Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 嗜好

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AI study notes for 嗜好

Quick Contrast

爱好 (àihào) refers to a hobby or interest that is generally more casual than 嗜好, which suggests a stronger or more compulsive preference.

Usage Notes

嗜好 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it often appears in discussions about personal interests. A common mistake is to confuse it with '兴趣' (xìngqù), which is more general for interests. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing, as mispronunciation may lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

嗜好 is useful for learners at HSK level 4 and above, as it connects to vocabulary related to personal interests and lifestyle. Focus on using it in sentences discussing hobbies or preferences to reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嗜好 with 兴趣, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我有很多嗜好' (I have many interests) is incorrect; it should be '我有很多兴趣'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嗜好

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Component characters

嗜shìaddicted to, fond of, with a weakness for
13 strokes口
View full entry
好hǎogood
HSK 16 strokes女
View full entry

How to say hobby in Chinese

“hobby” in Chinese is嗜好shìhào

嗜好 (shìhào) refers to a strong liking or preference for something, often used to describe hobbies or indulgences. It can also imply a habit or addiction to certain activities or substances, emphasizing the depth of the interest or dependence.

When to use 嗜好

嗜好 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it often appears in discussions about personal interests. A common mistake is to confuse it with '兴趣' (xìngqù), which is more general for interests. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing, as mispronunciation may lead to confusion.

嗜好 or something close to it

爱好 (àihào) refers to a hobby or interest that is generally more casual than 嗜好, which suggests a stronger or more compulsive preference.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嗜好 with 兴趣, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我有很多嗜好' (I have many interests) is incorrect; it should be '我有很多兴趣'.

Write 嗜好

嗜
好

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Frequently asked questions about 嗜好

Yes, 嗜好 can indicate both positive hobbies and negative addictions, depending on the context.

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