爱好

爱好 has two jobs: the noun for 'hobby' and a verb meaning 'be keen on'. The verb is real, but it hangs out in writing, resumes, and formal speech. Say 我爱好音乐 to a friend and you sound like a 1985 textbook. Everyday Chinese reaches for 喜欢 or 爱: 我很喜欢音乐. The noun is where 爱好 earns its keep. Build it as 我的爱好是 + activity, and scale it with 最大的 or 很多. That is the pattern you will use in nearly every real conversation. “最近我每周都游两三次，但看电影是我最大的爱好！” (Lately I swim two or three times a week, but watching movies is my biggest hobby!) ── [《你喜欢看老电影吗？》](/read/do-you-like-old-movies#s11)

好 has two readings, and the meaning tells you which one to use. When it means 'good', it is hǎo, like 好看. When it means 'to like' or 'be fond of', it is hào. 爱好 carries the 'fond of' meaning, so the second syllable is fourth tone: ài hào. Learners who say ài hǎo still get understood, but it is an instant tell.