指一個人在主要職業之外的愛好或副業，有時也指一個人的天職或真正的使命。
主要含義
EN: A hobby or minor occupation pursued for enjoyment, apart from one's main job.
翻譯: 指在主要職業之外，為了樂趣而從事的嗜好或次要工作。
次要含義
EN: A person's regular or principal occupation, especially when regarded as particularly suited to them.
翻譯: 指一個人通常或主要的職業，尤其被認為特別適合其天賦或使命時。
小提醒：注意：在現代英語中，第一個意思（嗜好、副業）更為常見。第二個意思（天職）較為少見且可能顯得正式或過時，容易造成混淆。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Avocation" from YouTube Videos
Mark Bezos: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter
TED
“In both my vocation at Robin Hood and my avocation as a volunteer firefighter, I am witness to acts of generosity and kindness on a monumental scale, but I'm also witness to acts of grace and courage on an individual basis, And you know what I've learned: They all matter.”
1. a hobby or minor occupation, pursued for enjoyment rather than as a main job
嗜好，副業（為興趣而非主要職業從事的活動）
Woodworking is more than just an avocation for him; it's a passion.
木工對他來說不僅僅是一項嗜好，更是一種熱情。
Her successful law career left little time for her avocation of painting.
她成功的法律事業讓她幾乎沒有時間從事繪畫這項嗜好。
2. a person's regular employment, calling, or vocation (archaic/formal)
（古語/正式）一個人的正職、天職或職業
In the 18th century, his avocation was that of a clergyman.
在十八世紀，他的正職是一名牧師。
The letter discussed matters pertaining to his legal avocation.
這封信討論了與他法律職業相關的事務。
3. a distraction or diversion from one's main work or interest
使人從主要工作或興趣中分心的事物
The constant administrative tasks became an unwelcome avocation from his research.
不斷的行政工作成了他研究工作中不受歡迎的干擾。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pursue + avocation | 從事（某項）副業/嗜好 | He pursues photography as an avocation. (他將攝影作為一項嗜好。) |
| an avocation + for + [person] | （某人）的一項副業/嗜好 | Gardening is a relaxing avocation for her. (園藝是她一項放鬆的嗜好。) |
| turn + avocation + into + vocation | 將嗜好轉變為職業 | She successfully turned her avocation into a vocation. (她成功將自己的嗜好變成了職業。) |
| balance + vocation + and + avocation | 平衡正職與副業/嗜好 | It's important to balance your vocation and your avocation. (平衡你的正職與嗜好是很重要的。) |
對比例句： EN: His profession is law, but his avocation is woodworking, where he crafts beautiful furniture. 翻譯: 他的職業是法律，但他的副業是木工，他會製作精美的家具。
EN:Many people have a hobby like gardening, but few pursue it with the dedication of an avocation.
翻譯:很多人有像園藝這樣的嗜好，但很少有人以經營副業般的熱忱來投入。
使用 avocation 時，強調的是那份超越一般嗜好、近乎第二職業的熱情與投入。
avocation vs vocation
「avocation」指業餘的嗜好或副業，而「vocation」則指主要的職業或天職。
avocation vs hobby
「avocation」比「hobby」更正式，且可能帶有副業或認真投入的含義，而「hobby」泛指一般的興趣愛好。
avocation vs pastime
「avocation」暗示更認真、有目的的投入，而「pastime」僅指消磨時間的活動。
當轉述他人對某項活動的看法或描述時，可以用來表示這只是對方的個人興趣，而非正式職業。 EN: He always says his woodworking is just an avocation, but his pieces are museum-quality. 翻譯: 他總說木工只是他的副業愛好，但他的作品簡直是博物館等級的。
EN:In her interview, she mentioned that photography started as an avocation before it became her career.
翻譯:她在訪談中提到，攝影在成為她的職業之前，最初只是一項消遣。
在對話中強調某項活動純粹出於個人熱情，而非為了金錢或職業壓力，常帶有輕鬆或自豪的語氣。 EN: Don't stress about selling your paintings—keep it as a fun avocation. 翻譯: 別為了賣畫有壓力—就把它當成一個有趣的嗜好吧。
EN:For me, gardening isn't a chore; it's a peaceful avocation.
翻譯:對我來說，園藝不是苦差事，而是一項寧靜的個人愛好。
在思考如何描述一項非工作活動時，可用作暫時的填充詞，使表達更流暢。 EN: My main job is in finance, but my... avocation, I guess you could call it, is restoring classic cars. 翻譯: 我的正職是金融，但我的…嗯，算是個人興趣吧，是修復老爺車。
EN:She's a lawyer by day, and her—what's the word—avocation is volunteering at the animal shelter.
翻譯:她白天是律師，而她的—該怎麼說呢—業餘愛好是在動物收容所當志工。
請注意：在正式寫作（如學術論文、商業報告）中，建議使用更標準的詞彙，例如 "hobby"、"pastime" 或 "side interest"，以保持語體的嚴謹性。"avocation" 在口語中雖可理解，但略顯書面，在正式場合可能不夠自然。
pursue an avocation
verb + avocation
從事一項副業/嗜好
primary avocation
adjective + avocation
主要的副業/嗜好
a lifelong avocation
adjective + avocation
終身的嗜好/副業
turn an avocation into a vocation
verb phrase + avocation
將嗜好/副業轉變為正職
a passionate avocation
adjective + avocation
充滿熱情的嗜好/副業
balance one's avocation with one's vocation
verb + avocation + with + noun
在正職與副業/嗜好之間取得平衡
a humble avocation
adjective + avocation
不起眼的嗜好/副業
×My avocation is a software engineer.
✓My vocation is software engineering. / My avocation is photography.
混淆了 'avocation'（嗜好、副業）與 'vocation'（職業、天職）。'Avocation' 指的是工作之餘的興趣或副業，而非主要謀生的工作。
×I have many avocations like reading, swimming, and watching movies.
✓I have many hobbies like reading, swimming, and watching movies.
將 'avocation' 與 'hobby'（嗜好）完全等同。'Avocation' 通常指投入較深、較有系統的副業或業餘追求，可能帶有技藝性或專業性，比一般休閒嗜好更正式、更深入。
×He is looking for an avocation to pay his bills.
✓He is looking for a job/vocation to pay his bills.
誤用 'avocation' 來指主要收入來源。'Avocation' 本質上是非主要的、非謀生性質的活動，通常不是為了賺取生活費。
×Playing video games is just my avocation for killing time.
✓Playing video games is just my pastime/way to kill time.
將 'avocation' 用於指純粹消磨時間的活動，忽略了其「認真投入的業餘追求」的含義。它帶有積極、投入的意涵，而非隨意打發時間。
×Her avocation is to become a famous painter.
✓Her ambition/dream is to become a famous painter. / Painting is her avocation.
誤將 'avocation' 與表示目標或夢想的詞（如 ambition, dream）混淆。'Avocation' 指的是一種持續進行的活動或興趣，而非一個未來目標。