Chinese word

业余

Pronunciation

Pinyinyè yú

Meaning

  • adjectiveamateur

Example

他是业余画家。tā shì yè yú huà jiā

He is an amateur painter.

Illustration for 业余 (amateur)

More examples

周末我的业余爱好是读书。zhōu mò wǒ de yè yú ài hào shì dú shū

My hobby in my spare time on weekends is reading.

Core concept

A person or activity connected with interests pursued outside one's profession.

Common phrases

  • 业余爱好yè yú ài hào

    spare-time hobby

  • 业余生活yè yú shēng huó

    spare-time life

  • 业余活动yè yú huó dòng

    spare-time activity

Similar words

外行wài háng: Not professionally trained or knowledgeable in a particular field.
空闲kòng xián: Free from work or other duties and able to be used as desired.

Definition in Chinese

不以此为职业，在业余时间出于兴趣或爱好进行的，既可形容人也可形容活动的性质。bù yí cǐ wèi zhí yè zài yè yú shí jiān chū yú xìng qù huò ài hào jìn xíng de jì kě xíng róng rén yě kě xíng róng huó dòng de xìng zhì

Word origin

业余 (yèyú, "amateur") combines 业 (yè, "occupation") with 余 (yú, "remaining time"), framing an interest as something pursued beyond one's occupation.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often hear amateur as a judgment about skill, but this Chinese adjective can be neutral and simply mark a nonprofessional connection.

Other meanings

  • spare timenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 业余爱好者yè yú ài hào zhěamateur enthusiastnoun
  • 业余人士yè yú rén shìamateurnoun

Word lists with this word