How common it is
业余 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say yè yú slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
业余指不是专业或正式的工作或活动，比如业余爱好。
Yèyú zhǐ bùshì zhuānyè huò zhèngshì de gōngzuò huò huódòng, bǐrú yèyú àihào.
Amateur refers to work or activities that are not professional or formal, such as amateur hobbies.
Context note
在中文里，业余常用来描述一个人在工作之外做的事情，比如业余时间学习画画。
Zài zhōngwén lǐ, yèyú cháng yòng lái miáoshù yīgè rén zài gōngzuò zhī wài zuò de shìqíng, bǐrú yèyú shíjiān xuéxí huà huà.
In Chinese, amateur is often used to describe things a person does outside of work, like learning to paint in amateur time.
5 examples
他是一名业余画家。
tā shì yì míng yè yú huà jiā。
He is an amateur painter.
我的业余爱好是读书。
wǒ de yè yú ài hào shì dú shū。
My amateur hobby is reading.
她在业余时间学习钢琴。
tā zài yè yú shí jiān xué xí gāng qín。
She learns piano in her amateur time.
业余运动员也参加比赛。
yè yú yùn dòng yuán yě cān jiā bǐ sài。
Amateur athletes also participate in competitions.
这个乐队是业余的。
zhè ge yuè duì shì yè yú de。
This band is amateur.
5 mini stories
小明喜欢在业余时间画画。他画了一幅美丽的风景画。
xiǎo míng xǐ huan zài yè yú shí jiān huà huà。 tā huà le yì fú měi lì de fēng jǐng huà。
Xiao Ming likes to paint in his amateur time. He painted a beautiful landscape.
小红是业余舞蹈爱好者。她每周都去跳舞。
xiǎo hóng shì yè yú wǔ dǎo ài hào zhě。 tā měi zhōu dōu qù tiào wǔ。
Xiao Hong is an amateur dance enthusiast. She goes dancing every week.
爸爸业余时间喜欢种花。花园里有很多漂亮的花。
bà ba yè yú shí jiān xǐ huan zhǒng huā。 huā yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō piào liang de huā。
Dad likes to grow flowers in his amateur time. There are many beautiful flowers in the garden.
业余摄影师拍了很多照片。这些照片很精彩。
yè yú shè yǐng shī pāi le hěn duō zhào piàn。 zhè xiē zhào piàn hěn jīng cǎi。
The amateur photographer took many photos. These photos are wonderful.
我们班有一个业余合唱团。大家唱得很好听。
wǒ men bān yǒu yí gè yè yú hé chàng tuán。 dà jiā chàng dé hěn hǎo tīng。
Our class has an amateur choir. Everyone sings beautifully.