爱好(ài hào) - hobby in Mandarin

爱好 (àihào) is "hobby" or "interest", from 爱 (ài), "to love", and 好 (hào), a less common reading of the character meaning "to be fond of", as opposed to the everyday reading 好 (hǎo), "good". Together they describe something you love doing in your free time.

It is the standard answer to 你的爱好是什么 (nǐ de àihào shì shénme), "what's your hobby?", a question that comes up constantly in introductions, job interviews and small talk alike, so it is worth having a ready reply.

Note the tone shift on 好 (hǎo/hào): as 好 (hǎo, third tone) it means "good", but in 爱好 (àihào) it is read hào (fourth tone), "to be fond of". Same character, different reading, different job, and a classic trap for learners who only ever met 好 (hǎo) in its "good" sense.