Meaning
兴趣 refers to a person's interest in or enthusiasm for something, whether it's an activity, subject, or hobby. It describes what attracts someone's attention and what they enjoy doing or learning about. The word combines the characters for 'excitement/flourishing' and 'interest/inclination' to convey genuine personal engagement.
Usage
This is a common, neutral term used in everyday conversation, academic contexts, and professional settings. It frequently appears with verbs like 有 (to have), 对...感兴趣 (to be interested in), and 培养 (to cultivate). Native speakers use it to discuss hobbies, academic interests, career preferences, and general likes.
Examples
- 01我对中国历史很感兴趣。.I'm very interested in Chinese history.
- 02你有什么兴趣爱好？?What are your interests and hobbies?
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个兴趣
- 种几种兴趣
Common collocations
- 对...感兴趣...to be interested in...
- 有兴趣to have interest, to be interested
- 兴趣爱好interests and hobbies
- 培养兴趣to cultivate interest
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to emotional engagement: 兴 originally meant 'to rise/flourish' and evolved to mean excitement or enthusiasm, while 趣 combines the 'walk' radical with a phonetic component meaning 'to hasten toward' something appealing.