兴趣 xìngqù interest (desire to know about something)
interest (desire to know about something); interest (thing in which one is interested); hobby
How to remember 兴趣: 兴 excited + 趣 interest = interest (desire to know about something).
Characters
How it is used
- 'Interest' - locked into fixed patterns 对…感兴趣 (duì…gǎn xìngqù) be interested in, and 有兴趣 (yǒu xìngqù): 我对历史很感兴趣 (wǒ duì lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqù) I'm keen on history.
- It's a noun/feeling, not a verb - you can't 兴趣 something.
- Contrast 爱好 (àihào), which is the hobby activity itself; 兴趣 is the curiosity/liking.
Example sentences
- 我不感兴趣。 Wǒ bùgǎnxìngqù.I'm not interested.
- 我对运动感兴趣。 Wǒ duì yùndòng gǎnxìngqù.I'm interested in sports.
- 她对摄影很感兴趣。 Tā duì shèyǐng hěn gǎn xìngqù.She's very interested in photography.