🎵 Chinese Hobbies & Music Vocabulary 兴趣·音乐·娱乐

53 essential Mandarin Chinese words for the Hobbies & Music scene, each with pinyin, English meaning, HSK level and native speaker audio, plus example sentences. Tap 🔊 to listen.

玩儿 wánr HSK 1
to play; to have fun
周末我们去公园玩儿zhōu mò wǒ men qù gōng yuán wánrOn the weekend we'll go play at the park.
照片 zhào piàn HSK 2
photograph; picture
这是我拍的照片。zhè shì wǒ pāi de zhào piànThis is a photo I took.
逛 guàng HSK 4
to stroll; to roam; to go window-shopping
周末我们去逛商场吧。zhōu mò wǒ men qù guàng shāng chǎng baLet's go stroll around the mall this weekend.
收集 shōu jí HSK 5
to gather; to collect
他从小就喜欢收集邮票。tā cóng xiǎo jiù xǐ huan shōu jí yóu piàoHe has liked collecting stamps since childhood.
拍摄 pāi shè HSK 5
to shoot (a film); to take (a photo)
这部电影在海边拍摄。zhè bù diàn yǐng zài hǎi biān pāi shèThis movie was filmed by the seaside.
摄像 shè xiàng HSK 5
to videotape; to film
婚礼上有人专门负责摄像。hūn lǐ shàng yǒu rén zhuān mén fù zé shè xiàngAt the wedding someone was in charge of filming.
赌 dǔ HSK 6
to bet; to gamble
他把钱全赌光了。tā bǎ qián quán dǔ guāng leHe gambled away all his money.
收藏 shōu cáng HSK 6
to collect; to bookmark; a collection
他收藏了很多古董。tā shōu cáng le hěn duō gǔ dǒngHe has collected many antiques.
录像 lù xiàng HSK 6
to videotape; video recording
监控摄像头录像一直没有停。jiān kòng shè xiàng tóu lù xiàng yì zhí méi yǒu tíngThe surveillance camera has been recording nonstop.
赌博 dǔ bó HSK 6
to gamble; gambling
他因为赌博欠了一大笔债。tā yīn wèi dǔ bó qiàn le yí dà bǐ zhàiHe ran up a huge debt because of gambling.
俱乐部 jù lè bù HSK 5
club (organization or venue)
他加入了一个足球俱乐部。tā jiā rù le yí ge zú qiú jù lè bùHe joined a football club.
歌迷 gē mí HSK 3
fan (of a singer)
很多歌迷在门口等着他。hěn duō gē mí zài mén kǒu děng zhe tāMany fans are waiting for him at the entrance.
文娱 wén yú HSK 6
cultural recreation; entertainment
公司经常组织文娱活动。gōng sī jīng cháng zǔ zhī wén yú huó dòngThe company often organizes recreational activities.
玩具 wán jù HSK 3
toy; plaything
孩子最喜欢这个玩具。hái zi zuì xǐ huan zhè ge wán jùThe child likes this toy the most.
唱片 chàng piàn HSK 4
record; music album
他收藏了很多老唱片。tā shōu cáng le hěn duō lǎo chàng piànHe has collected many old records.
中奖 zhòng jiǎng HSK 4
to win a prize (in a lottery etc)
他买彩票中奖了，非常高兴。tā mǎi cǎi piào zhòng jiǎng le fēi cháng gāo xìngHe won a prize on a lottery ticket and was very happy.
抽奖 chōu jiǎng HSK 4
to draw a prize; raffle
买满一百块就能抽奖。mǎi mǎn yì bǎi kuài jiù néng chōu jiǎngYou can draw a prize once you spend a hundred yuan.
彩票 cǎi piào HSK 5
lottery ticket
他每周都买一张彩票。tā měi zhōu dōu mǎi yì zhāng cǎi piàoHe buys a lottery ticket every week.
唱 chàng HSK 1
to sing
她唱得很好tā chàng de hěn hǎoShe sings very well.
唱歌 chàng gē HSK 1
to sing (a song)
我喜欢唱歌wǒ xǐ huan chàng gēI like singing.
歌 gē HSK 1
song (everyday word)
这首歌很好听。zhè shǒu gē hěn hǎo tīngThis song is very nice.
爱好 ài hào HSK 1
hobby; interest
我的爱好是画画。wǒ de ài hào shì huà huàMy hobby is drawing.
音乐会 yīn yuè huì HSK 2
concert
周末我们去听音乐会吧。zhōu mò wǒ men qù tīng yīn yuè huì baLet's go to a concert this weekend.
音乐 yīn yuè HSK 2
music
我很喜欢听音乐。wǒ hěn xǐ huan tīng yīn yuèI really like listening to music.
游戏 yóu xì HSK 3
game; to play
孩子们在玩游戏。hái zi men zài wán yóu xìThe children are playing a game.
乐队 yuè duì HSK 3
band; music group
我最喜欢的乐队要来演出了。wǒ zuì xǐ huan de yuè duì yào lái yǎn chū leMy favorite band is coming to perform.
演唱会 yǎn chàng huì HSK 3
concert; vocal recital
周末我们去看演唱会吧。zhōu mò wǒ men qù kàn yǎn chàng huì baLet's go to a concert this weekend.
演唱 yǎn chàng HSK 3
to sing (for an audience); to perform vocally
她在台上演唱了一首新歌。tā zài tái shàng yǎn chàng le yì shǒu xīn gēShe sang a new song on stage.
跳舞 tiào wǔ HSK 3
to dance
她很喜欢跳舞。tā hěn xǐ huan tiào wǔShe really likes dancing.
散步 sàn bù HSK 3
to take a walk; to go for a stroll
晚饭后我们去公园散步吧。wǎn fàn hòu wǒ men qù gōng yuán sàn bù baLet's go for a walk in the park after dinner.
歌声 gē shēng HSK 3
singing voice; sound of singing
她的歌声真好听。tā de gē shēng zhēn hǎo tīngHer singing voice is really beautiful.
兴趣 xìng qù HSK 4
interest; hobby
我对历史很有兴趣。wǒ duì lì shǐ hěn yǒu xìng qùI'm very interested in history.
摄影 shè yǐng HSK 5
photography; to take photos; to shoot (a film)
他对摄影特别感兴趣。tā duì shè yǐng tè bié gǎn xìng qùHe is particularly interested in photography.
专辑 zhuān jí HSK 5
album (music); special collection
她的新专辑卖得很好。tā de xīn zhuān jí mài de hěn hǎoHer new album is selling very well.
舞 wǔ HSK 5
to dance; dance; to wield
她随着音乐翩翩起舞。tā suí zhe yīn yuè piān piān qǐ wǔShe danced gracefully to the music.
休闲 xiū xián HSK 5
leisure; casual; relaxation
周末我喜欢做一些休闲活动。zhōu mò wǒ xǐ huan zuò yì xiē xiū xián huó dòngOn weekends I like to do some leisure activities.
鼓 gǔ HSK 5
drum; to beat (a drum); to rouse
他用力敲着那面鼓。tā yòng lì qiāo zhe nà miàn gǔHe beat that drum with all his strength.
歌曲 gē qǔ HSK 5
song, musical piece (formal/written)
这首歌曲的旋律很动听。zhè shǒu gē qǔ de xuán lǜ hěn dòng tīngThe melody of this song is very pleasant.
钢琴 gāng qín HSK 5
piano
她从小就开始学钢琴。tā cóng xiǎo jiù kāi shǐ xué gāng qínShe started learning the piano when she was little.
琴 qín HSK 5
stringed/keyboard musical instrument (piano, zither, etc.)
她从小就开始学琴。tā cóng xiǎo jiù kāi shǐ xué qínShe started learning the instrument when she was little.
演奏 yǎn zòu HSK 6
to perform (music); to play (an instrument)
她为大家演奏了一首钢琴曲。tā wèi dà jiā yǎn zòu le yì shǒu gāng qín qǔShe performed a piano piece for everyone.
歌唱 gē chàng HSK 6
to sing (esp. in praise or celebration)
孩子们放声歌唱。hái zi men fàng shēng gē chàngThe children sang out loud.
娱乐 yú lè HSK 6
entertainment; recreation; to amuse
工作之余也要适当地娱乐一下gōng zuò zhī yú yě yào shì dàng de yú lè yí xiàYou should also entertain yourself appropriately outside of work.
舞蹈 wǔ dǎo HSK 6
dance; dancing
她从小就热爱舞蹈。tā cóng xiǎo jiù rè ài wǔ dǎoShe has loved dance since childhood.
游戏机 yóu xì jī HSK 6
video game console
他花光积蓄买了台游戏机。tā huā guāng jī xù mǎi le tái yóu xì jīHe spent all his savings on a game console.
奏 zòu HSK 6
to play (music); to perform
乐队为大家奏了一首名曲。yuè duì wèi dà jiā zòu le yì shǒu míng qǔThe band played a famous piece for everyone.
打牌 dǎ pái HSK 6
to play cards or mahjong
老人们喜欢在公园里打牌。lǎo rén men xǐ huan zài gōng yuán lǐ dǎ páiOld people like to play cards in the park.
歌词 gē cí HSK 6
song lyric; lyrics
这首歌的歌词特别感人。zhè shǒu gē de gē cí tè bié gǎn rénThe lyrics of this song are especially moving.
乐曲 yuè qǔ HSK 6
musical composition; piece of music
这首乐曲的旋律非常优美动听。zhè shǒu yuè qǔ de xuán lǜ fēi cháng yōu měi dòng tīngThe melody of this musical piece is extremely beautiful.
民歌 mín gē HSK 6
folk song
她唱了一首动听的西北民歌。tā chàng le yì shǒu dòng tīng de xī běi mín gēShe sang a beautiful northwestern folk song.
迷 mí HSK 3
to be lost; to be crazy about; fan
我在这条街上迷路了。wǒ zài zhè tiáo jiē shàng mí lù leI got lost on this street.
业余 yè yú HSK 4
in one's spare time; amateur
画画只是他的业余爱好。huà huà zhǐ shì tā de yè yú ài hàoPainting is just his amateur hobby.
节奏 jié zòu HSK 6
rhythm; tempo; pace
这首歌的节奏非常明快。zhè shǒu gē de jié zòu fēi cháng míng kuàiThe rhythm of this song is very lively.

FAQ

How many Chinese hobbies & music words are in this list?

53 words, including HSK 1: 5, HSK 2: 3, HSK 3: 10, HSK 4: 6, HSK 5: 13, HSK 6: 16. Every word has playable native audio and example sentences.

Are these words useful for the HSK?

Yes — every word is tagged with its HSK level (HSK 1–6 or 7+), so you can prioritise words for your target level.

What is the best way to memorise them?

Learn them as a scene group with spaced repetition: listen and repeat, study the example sentence, review the next day. The companion app has built-in SRS and four quiz types.

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