Want to chat about your hobbies with Chinese speakers? In this beginner-friendly lesson, you’ll learn how to say what you like, what you can do, and how often you do it. We’ll use simple patterns that work in everyday conversations: 我喜欢…, 我会…, 我常常…. You’ll also learn how to ask others about their interests—and respond naturally.

Core patterns you’ll use

Here are the three most useful patterns for A1 conversations about hobbies:

• 我喜欢 + 活动/东西 (I like + activity/thing)
• 我会 + 技能 (I can/know how to + skill)
• 我常常 / 有时候 + 动作 (I often / sometimes + action)

Use these to build short, clear sentences.

Quick vocab for common hobbies

Practice with these everyday activities. Try saying them aloud with the patterns above.

我看电影。

我游泳。

我跑步。

Ask about hobbies (and answer smoothly)

Two super common questions:

• 你喜欢做什么？ (What do you like to do?)
• 你有什么爱好？ (What hobbies do you have?)

Answer with the patterns you learned:

• 我喜欢看电影，也喜欢跑步。
• 我会游泳。
• 我常常听音乐。

Using 会 for skills

Use 会 to say you can/know how to do something (a learned skill):

• 我会游泳。
• 她会唱歌。

Don’t worry about tense—Chinese doesn’t conjugate verbs like English. Keep it simple: Subject + 会 + Verb.

我是喜欢看书。 → 我喜欢看书。 Don’t add 是 before a verb phrase with 喜欢. 我可以游泳（meaning skill）。 → 我会游泳。 可以 = can/allowed. 会 = can/know how (skill). Use 会 for hobbies/skills.

Add “also” and “sometimes” naturally

Want to agree or add another hobby? Use 也 (also) and 有时候 (sometimes).

• 我也喜欢听音乐。 (I also like listening to music.)
• 我有时候看电影。 (I sometimes watch movies.)

Plan activities together

To suggest doing something together, say: 我们一起 + 动作 + 吧。

• 我们一起看电影吧。 (Let’s watch a movie.)
• 我们一起跑步吧。 (Let’s go for a run.)

Respond with: 好啊！(Sure!), or sounds positive: 不错！(Not bad!), 太好了！(Great!).

我们去唱歌吧。

Mini dialogue: put it in order

Practice a short hobby chat. Put the lines in a natural conversation order.

Cultural notes: common hobbies in Chinese-speaking communities

• KTV 唱歌: Going to karaoke with friends is super popular. Try saying: 我们一起去KTV吧！
• 打麻将: Playing mahjong is a social hobby, often with family or neighbors.
• 跳广场舞: Many people, especially older adults, dance in public squares in the evening.
• 羽毛球 (badminton): Easy to play in parks; very common.
• 逛街 (to stroll/shop): A popular weekend activity—window shopping and snacks.

React politely to someone’s hobby:

• 真不错！ (That’s great!)
• 我也喜欢！ (I like it too!)
• 下次一起吧！ (Let’s do it together next time!)

Your turn: easy speaking prompts

• 你喜欢做什么？
• 你会做饭吗？
• 你常常运动吗？
• 你也喜欢旅行吗？

Answer with short, clear sentences:

• 我喜欢拍照，也喜欢听音乐。
• 我会做饭。
• 我有时候跑步。
• 我也喜欢旅行。

Common mistake check

Keep these in mind when you speak:

• Don’t add 是 before 喜欢: say 我喜欢…, not 我是喜欢…。
• Use 会 for skills: 我会游泳 (I can swim). Use 可以 for permission: 我可以游泳吗？ (May I swim?).
• Place 也 after the subject: 我也…, not 我喜欢也…。

Quick review

• Questions: 你喜欢做什么？/ 你有什么爱好？
• Likes: 我喜欢 + 动作/东西
• Skills: 我会 + 动作
• Frequency: 我常常… / 我有时候…
• Also: 我也…
• Invite: 我们一起…吧

Practice a little every day. The more you reuse these patterns, the more natural your Chinese will sound. 加油！