Chinese word

消遣

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiāo qiǎn

Meaning

  • nounpastime

Example

下班后看电影成了我的消遣。xià bān hòu kàn diàn yǐng chéng le wǒ de xiāo qiǎn

After work, watching movies became my pastime.

Illustration for 消遣 (pastime)

More examples

他把画画当作业余消遣。tā bǎ huà huà dàng zuò yè yú xiāo qiǎn

He uses drawing as a pastime in his spare time.

Core concept

A brief, pleasant way to occupy empty time and ease the mind.

Common phrases

  • 业余消遣yè yú xiāo qiǎn

    pastime in one's spare time

  • 打发时间的消遣dǎ fā shí jiān de xiāo qiǎn

    pastime for passing the time

  • 茶余饭后的消遣chá yú fàn hòu de xiāo qiǎn

    pastime after meals

Similar words

休闲xiū xián: A leisurely way of spending free time while resting and recovering from tiredness.
娱乐yú lè: An activity meant to entertain and give pleasure through watching, listening, or playing.
爱好ài hào: A lasting personal hobby chosen because it is especially enjoyable.
兴趣xìng qù: The mental state of being interested in something and wanting to take part in it.

Definition in Chinese

多指用来消磨时间、获得短暂愉悦或放松心情的活动或事情，可作名词也可作动词。duō zhǐ yòng lái xiāo mó shí jiān huò dé duǎn zàn yú yuè huò fàng sōng xīn qíng de huó dòng huò shì qíng kě zuò míng cí yě kě zuò dòng cí

Word origin

消 (xiāo, "disperse") + 遣 (qiǎn, "send away") present leisure as a way to drive away boredom or mental strain, leading to the modern meaning of a pastime.

Usage tips

  • When the particular activity is unimportant, this general word keeps the sentence focused on how free time is spent; when the activity matters, Chinese commonly names it instead.

Other meanings

  • way to pass the timenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word