<p>When a character have multiple similar pronunciations, such as 好 with different tones, it can means different part of speech for the same/similar concept. This phenomenon is called <a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E8%81%B2%E5%88%A5%E7%BE%A9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">四声别义</a>. For example:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>好(hǎo，上声): adjective. good.</p>

<p>好(hào，去声)：verb. like.</p></li>
<li><p>少(shǎo，上声): adjective. few.</p>

<p>少(shào，去声): noun. young people.</p></li>
<li><p>骑(qí，阳平): verb. ride.</p>

<p>骑(jì，去声): noun. rider (on horse).</p></li>
<li><p>教(jiāo，阴平): verb. teach.</p>

<p>教(jiào，去声): noun. teaching.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>In your question, 好 of 爱好 is a verb. The meaning is similar to 爱. Therefore, people combine these two characters to mean a verb, to like. 爱好 can also be <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_conjugation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">conjugated</a> (called 活用 in Chinese) as a noun, means hobby.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-16T06:42:41.213Z
Chinese verbs can be conjugated?!
Ludi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-16T06:50:07.190Z
@Ludi Maybe calling it conjugation is inaccurate. What I mean is the part of speech of the words can be flexibly changed, such as noun -> verb, verb -> noun, adj -> verb, etc.
Harry Summer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-18T18:45:52.510Z
@HarrySummer Thanks for the very thorough answer! So, by using what would otherwise be a verb in a spot where noun _should_ be, you effectively conjugate the word? As in any other language, I'm sure this doesn't apply to all verbs, but it sounds similar to saying "I have my _likes_ and _dislikes,_" as opposed to "I _like_ some things and _dislike_ others." Same word, different part of speech simply by moving it.
JohnnyHammersticks
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-13T03:53:20.833Z
2017-05-13T03:53:20.833Z
Harry Summer
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/485/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">好</a></p>
<p>[粵] hou2 | [國] hao3</p>
<p>(1) [adj] good; fine; nice | [ant] 壞</p>
<p>....</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/485/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">好</a></p>
<p>[粵] hou3 | [國] <strong>hao</strong>4</p>
<p>[v] like; love; be fond of</p>
<p>[v] be liable to; be likely to</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>好(hao4)酒= like to drink</p>
<p>好(hao4)賭= like to gamble</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>愛好</strong>= 'love and like' = <strong>interest/ hobby</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T21:33:28.233Z
2017-05-12T21:33:28.233Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>Newbie here. It makes sense that "ài" means "love" in the context of hobbies; you're doing what you love. What does "hào" mean here, though? Is it just a strange pronunciation of the standard "hǎo"? Or is it more like "hào" is used to mean "lovely"? Thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T18:50:18.673Z
bkrs：hào
to be fond of
to have a tendency to
to be prone to
1) 动 爱、喜爱。
2) 名 心中所喜爱的事。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T19:49:17.323Z
Hi @user6065, thanks for your comment. However, those examples appear to use "ài", not "hào". I already know the meaning of "ài".
JohnnyHammersticks
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T21:17:08.130Z
好(hào) also means [like to / fond of] beside['good / well]
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T21:32:50.953Z
Did you try any dictionaries before asking here?  Your answer is on http://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T22:43:33.770Z
??? "those examples" explain the meaning of 好(hào) in Chinese
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-13T16:16:36.003Z
can anybody find the previous question asking for a list of characters undergoing change of pronunciation (in tone only) associated with change in word category? (users only supplied a very limited number of examples)
user6065
<word><equivalent-phrase>
What does the "hào" mean in "àihào" for "hobby"?
# What does the "hào" mean in "àihào" for "hobby"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-05-12)

Newbie here. It makes sense that "ài" means "love" in the context of hobbies; you're doing what you love. What does "hào" mean here, though? Is it just a strange pronunciation of the standard "hǎo"? Or is it more like "hào" is used to mean "lovely"? Thanks!

**Tags:** word, equivalent-phrase
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: bkrs：hào to be fond of to have a tendency to to be prone to 1) 动 爱、喜爱。 2) 名 心中所喜爱的事。  
> **username_0**: Hi @user6065, thanks for your comment. However, those examples appear to use "ài", not "hào". I already know the meaning of "ài".  
> **username_2**: 好(hào) also means [like to / fond of] beside['good / well]  
> **username_3**: Did you try any dictionaries before asking here?  Your answer is on http://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php  
> **username_1**: ??? "those examples" explain the meaning of 好(hào) in Chinese  
> **username_1**: can anybody find the previous question asking for a list of characters undergoing change of pronunciation (in tone only) associated with change in word category? (users only supplied a very limited number of examples)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-05-13. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

When a character have multiple similar pronunciations, such as 好 with different tones, it can means different part of speech for the same/similar concept. This phenomenon is called [四声别义](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%9B%E8%81%B2%E5%88%A5%E7%BE%A9). For example:

* 好(hǎo，上声): adjective. good.

  好(hào，去声)：verb. like.
* 少(shǎo，上声): adjective. few.

  少(shào，去声): noun. young people.
* 骑(qí，阳平): verb. ride.

  骑(jì，去声): noun. rider (on horse).
* 教(jiāo，阴平): verb. teach.

  教(jiào，去声): noun. teaching.

In your question, 好 of 爱好 is a verb. The meaning is similar to 爱. Therefore, people combine these two characters to mean a verb, to like. 爱好 can also be [conjugated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_conjugation) (called 活用 in Chinese) as a noun, means hobby.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Chinese verbs can be conjugated?!  
> **username_4**: @Ludi Maybe calling it conjugation is inaccurate. What I mean is the part of speech of the words can be flexibly changed, such as noun -> verb, verb -> noun, adj -> verb, etc.  
> **username_0**: @HarrySummer Thanks for the very thorough answer! So, by using what would otherwise be a verb in a spot where noun _should_ be, you effectively conjugate the word? As in any other language, I'm sure this doesn't apply to all verbs, but it sounds similar to saying "I have my _likes_ and _dislikes,_" as opposed to "I _like_ some things and _dislike_ others." Same word, different part of speech simply by moving it.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-05-12. Score: 1

> [好](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/485/)
>
> [粵] hou2 | [國] hao3
>
> (1) [adj] good; fine; nice | [ant] 壞
>
> ....

~

> [好](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/485/)
>
> [粵] hou3 | [國] **hao**4
>
> [v] like; love; be fond of
>
> [v] be liable to; be likely to
>
> Example:
>
> 好(hao4)酒= like to drink
>
> 好(hao4)賭= like to gamble

**愛好**= 'love and like' = **interest/ hobby**


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