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March 24, 2026
业余(業餘)yèyú(ye4yu2)
The term 业余 (yè yú) refers to activities or pursuits that are done in one's spare time, typically outside of professional obligations. It often connotes an amateur status in contrast to professional engagement, and is frequently used in contexts such as hobbies, sports, and extra-curricular activities.
Frequency#4395DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, engaging in 业余 activities is often seen as a way to maintain work-life balance, with many people participating in sports or classes after work to enrich their lives and socialize.
Memory Tip
Think of 业 (yè) as representing 'industry' or 'business' and 余 (yú) as 'extra' or 'leftover'. Imagine someone finishing their business and having leftover time (业余) to pursue a hobby, like painting or playing sports.
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AI Study Notes for 业余
Quick Contrast
业余 (yèyú) vs 专业 (zhuānyè) — use 业余 for amateur pursuits in spare time, while 专业 refers to professional or specialized fields.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 业 (yè) as representing 'industry' or 'business' and 余 (yú) as 'extra' or 'leftover'. Imagine someone finishing their business and having leftover time (业余) to pursue a hobby, like painting or playing sports.
Usage Notes
When using 业余, be careful not to use it in a formal context where professionalism is expected. Common collocations include 业余时间 (spare time) and 业余爱好 (hobby). Remember that the first character is pronounced with a falling tone (ye4), while the second has a rising tone (yu2) to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 业余 connects with other vocabulary about time management and leisure activities. Focus on practicing sentences that incorporate 业余 to describe how you spend your free time, enhancing your conversational skills.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, engaging in 业余 activities is often seen as a way to maintain work-life balance, with many people participating in sports or classes after work to enrich their lives and socialize.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 业余 with 专业 (zhuān yè), which means 'professional.' For example, saying 我是业余医生 (I am an amateur doctor) is incorrect; it should be 我是专业医生 (I am a professional doctor).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 业余
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Grammar Patterns of 业余
业余 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
泰勒的运动生涯是从一名____守门员开始的。
Taylor began his playing career as an amateur goalkeeper.
Example Sentences for 业余 (7)
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1
泰勒的运动生涯是从一名业余守门员开始的。
tài lè de yùn dòng shēng yá shì cóng yī míng yè yú shǒu mén yuán kāi shǐ de。
Taylor began his playing career as an amateur goalkeeper.
My hobbies are letter writing, foot-ball, music, photography, and tennis.
7
接着，他又作为1962年度杰出业余运动员赢得了“詹姆斯·E.沙利文纪念奖”。
jiē zháo， ， tā yòu zuò1962 wéi 1962 nián dù jié chū yè yú yùn dòng yuán yíng“ dé le “·E. zhān mǔ sī ·E. shā lì”。
He went on to win the James E. Sullivan Memorial Trophy as the outstanding amateur athlete of
Cultural Notes for 业余
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, engaging in 业余 activities is often seen as a way to maintain work-life balance, with many people participating in sports or classes after work to enrich their lives and socialize.
Frequently Asked Questions about 业余
In sports, 业余 refers to someone who participates in activities without being a professional, indicating they do it for fun rather than for a living.
No, 业余 specifically refers to non-professional or amateur activities, so it should not be used to describe professional work.
An example sentence is: 我在业余时间喜欢画画 (I like to paint in my spare time).
