Deciding whether to continue a hobby | Learn Dutch in English

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Use Deciding whether to continue a hobby to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik weet niet zeker of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles.

ikh VAYT neet ZAY-kur of ikh DOHR vil GAHN met duh SKHIL-dur-less. I am not sure whether I want to continue the painting class.

Verlies je je interesse, of is de vaste verplichting te veel?

vur-LEES yuh yur in-tuh-RES-suh, of iss duh VAHS-tuh vur-PLIKH-ting tuh VAYL? Are you losing interest, or is the fixed commitment too much?

Een beetje van allebei. Ik vind schilderen leuk, maar de les voelt stressvol.

un BAY-tyuh vahn ah-luh-BAY. ikh vint SKHIL-dur-un luhk, mahr duh less voelt STRESS-vol. A bit of both. I like painting, but the class feels stressful.

Misschien is de hobby van iets ontspannends veranderd in nog een verplichting.

mis-SKHEEN iss duh HOB-bee vahn eets ont-SPAH-nunts vur-AHN-durt in nokh un vur-PLIKH-ting. Maybe the hobby changed from relaxing to another obligation.

Ja, het voelt minder als plezier en meer als een taak.

yah, ut voelt MIN-dur ahls pluh-ZEER un mayr ahls un TAHK. Yes, it feels less like fun and more like another task.

Je zou thuis gewoon voor de ontspanning kunnen oefenen.

yuh zow touse VAYSH-uh duh ont-SPAH-ning KUN-uh OO-fuh-nun. You could switch to casual practice at home instead.

Dan kan ik het voordeel behouden zonder het vaste schema.

dahn kahn ikh ut VOHR-dayl buh-HOW-dun ZON-dur ut VAHS-tuh SKHAY-mah. Then I can keep the benefit without the fixed schedule.

Hobby's moeten bij je leven passen, niet alleen bij je ideale versie van jezelf.

HOB-bees MOO-tun bay yuh LAY-vun PAH-sun, neet ah-LAYN bay yuh ee-DAY-luh VAIR-see vahn yur-ZELF. Hobbies should fit your life, not just your ideal self.

Misschien laat een pauze zien of ik de les mis.

mis-SKHEEN laht un POW-zuh zeen of ikh duh less miss. Maybe pausing the class would show whether I miss it.

Dat is beter dan plotseling stoppen of jezelf dwingen.

daht iss BAY-tur dahn PLOT-suh-ling STOP-un of yur-ZELF DWING-un. That is better than quitting suddenly or forcing yourself.

Word by Word

Ik Ik is the speaker’s word for “I” in this sentence. It is the subject in Ik weet niet zeker and is used when saying who knows, wants, or feels something.

weet weet means “know” here, as in not being certain about a decision. The citation form is weten; weet is the exact form in Ik weet niet zeker, a pattern used before information or a whether-clause.

niet niet makes the statement negative, so Ik weet niet zeker expresses that the speaker is not certain. In niet zeker, it comes before the word whose meaning is being negated.

zeker zeker means “sure” or “certain” here. Together with niet in niet zeker, it expresses uncertainty, as in Ik weet niet zeker of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles.

of of introduces a question about whether something is the case in of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles. In of is de vaste verplichting te veel, it instead means “or”; the surrounding clause determines its function.

door door contributes the meaning of continuing onward in door wil gaan met de schilderles. This word is used in the reusable pattern door ... gaan met an activity.

wil wil expresses what the speaker wants or intends in of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles. The citation form is willen, and this exact form appears before gaan in the subordinate clause.

gaan gaan means “go,” but in door wil gaan met de schilderles it contributes to the meaning “continue.” The citation form is also gaan, and the expression is used for continuing with an activity.

met met means “with” in door wil gaan met de schilderles and marks the activity being continued. It is used here directly before the activity or thing that continues.

de de is the definite article before schilderles in de schilderles, meaning “the painting class.” It identifies a specific class already understood in the conversation.

schilderles schilderles means “painting class,” the organized activity being discussed. It is the object of door wil gaan met and names a class rather than painting in general.

Verlies Verlies means “lose” or “are losing” in the question Verlies je je interesse. The citation form is verliezen, and the form is used here with je interesse as the thing whose presence is declining.

je je means “you” in Verlies je je interesse and “your” in je interesse. The same exact form can refer to the person being addressed or show possession, depending on its position in the sentence.

interesse interesse means “interest” here, referring to motivation for the painting class. In je interesse, it is the thing that someone may lose.

is is links a subject with a description or evaluation. In is de vaste verplichting te veel it asks whether the obligation is excessive, while in is de hobby ... veranderd it introduces what happened to the hobby.

vaste vaste means “fixed” or “regular” in vaste verplichting and vaste schema. It describes a commitment or schedule that is set rather than flexible; the related base form is vast.

verplichting verplichting means “obligation,” something that creates a duty or commitment. In de vaste verplichting, it names the fixed demand that may feel like too much.

te te contributes the meaning “too” in te veel and signals that the amount is excessive. The full meaning “too much” comes from the combination te veel, not from te alone.

veel veel expresses a large amount in te veel, which means “too much” in this question. It combines with te when the amount is presented as excessive.

Een Een is the indefinite article “a” in Een beetje van allebei. It introduces a small, non-specific amount rather than identifying one particular bit.

beetje beetje means “bit” or “small amount” in Een beetje van allebei. The phrase is used to say that both possible reasons apply to a limited degree.

van van means “of” in Een beetje van allebei, connecting the small amount with both reasons. It also means “from” in van iets ontspannends veranderd and expresses the starting point of a change.

allebei allebei means “both,” referring here to the two reasons just mentioned: losing interest and the fixed commitment being too much. It commonly follows van when describing a part of both things, as in Een beetje van allebei.

vind vind means “find” in the expression Ik vind schilderen leuk, where it expresses an opinion rather than discovering something. The citation form is vinden, and the reusable pattern is vinden plus an activity or thing plus leuk.

schilderen schilderen means “painting” or “to paint” as an activity in Ik vind schilderen leuk. It functions as the activity being evaluated and can be discussed as something a person enjoys.

leuk leuk means “enjoyable” or “fun” in Ik vind schilderen leuk. With vinden, it gives a positive evaluation of an activity or thing.

maar maar means “but” and contrasts enjoying painting with finding the class stressful. It is useful for joining two statements where the second one limits or contrasts with the first.

les les means “class” or “lesson” in de les voelt stressvol and de les mis. Here it refers to the painting class, first as something with a feeling and later as something whose absence might be noticed.

voelt voelt means “feels” in de les voelt stressvol, describing the class as experienced by the speaker. The citation form is voelen, and the form is used with a subject followed by a description.

stressvol stressvol means “stressful” in de les voelt stressvol. It describes the emotional effect of the class and contrasts with the relaxing role expected from a hobby.

Misschien Misschien means “maybe” and introduces a possibility rather than a firm decision. It appears before the suggestion that the hobby may have changed and before the idea of taking a pause.

hobby hobby means “hobby” in de hobby, referring to the person’s leisure activity as a whole. It is the subject of the statement about changing from something relaxing into an obligation.

iets iets means “something” in iets ontspannends, leaving the relaxing thing unspecified. It can be followed by a description when the speaker does not name a particular object or activity.

ontspannends ontspannends means “relaxing” or “something relaxing” in iets ontspannends. Its form describes the unspecified thing introduced by iets, identifying its quality rather than naming it.

veranderd veranderd describes the hobby as having changed in van iets ontspannends veranderd in nog een verplichting. The related citation form is veranderen, and the reusable pattern veranderd in shows a change into a new state.

in in means “into” in veranderd in nog een verplichting and marks the result of the change. It is used here after veranderd to connect the former state with the new one.

nog nog means “another” or “an additional” in nog een verplichting. It shows that the obligation would be added to the other demands already present.

Ja Ja means “yes” and confirms the previous speaker’s suggestion. It is a direct response used to agree with or acknowledge what has just been said.

het het means “it” in het voelt, referring to the situation or class being discussed. In het voordeel, it is the definite article meaning “the,” so its function depends on whether it stands before a noun.

minder minder means “less” in minder als plezier and presents the hobby as having a lower degree of enjoyment. It is paired with meer in the comparison minder als plezier en meer als een taak.

als als means “like” or “as” in minder als plezier and meer als een taak, connecting the experience with two ways of characterizing it. It is used here to make a comparison.

plezier plezier means “fun” or “pleasure” in minder als plezier. It names the enjoyable quality that the hobby now has less of.

en en means “and” and joins the two contrasting descriptions minder als plezier and meer als een taak. It connects items or statements that are being presented together.

meer meer means “more” in meer als een taak, showing that the hobby is experienced increasingly as a task. It forms the second side of the comparison with minder.

taak taak means “task,” something that needs to be done. In meer als een taak, it describes the class as an obligation rather than a source of pleasure.

zou zou makes Je zou thuis gewoon voor de ontspanning kunnen oefenen a tentative suggestion, translated here with “could.” It is useful when proposing an option without presenting it as a command.

thuis thuis means “at home” and specifies where the casual practice could happen. It commonly identifies the home setting for an activity, as in thuis ... oefenen.

gewoon gewoon means “simply” or “casually” here, making the practice sound ordinary and without extra pressure. In Je zou thuis gewoon voor de ontspanning kunnen oefenen, it contrasts with the fixed class arrangement.

voor voor means “for” in voor de ontspanning and expresses the purpose of practicing. It connects an activity with the goal or benefit it is intended to provide.

ontspanning ontspanning means “relaxation” in voor de ontspanning. It names the purpose of practicing at home: doing it to relax rather than to meet a fixed commitment.

kunnen kunnen expresses possibility or ability in Je zou thuis gewoon voor de ontspanning kunnen oefenen. Together with zou, it forms a polite or tentative suggestion, and it comes before the activity oefenen.

oefenen oefenen means “practice” in voor de ontspanning kunnen oefenen. It is the activity that can be done at home and appears after the modal forms zou and kunnen.

Dan Dan means “then” in Dan kan ik het voordeel behouden and presents the result of the proposed change. It introduces what can happen if the speaker practices casually at home.

kan kan means “can” in Dan kan ik het voordeel behouden, expressing what the speaker would be able to retain. The related citation form is kunnen, and kan appears before the subject in this sentence.

voordeel voordeel means “benefit” or useful positive result in het voordeel behouden. It refers to what the speaker wants to keep from the hobby while removing the fixed schedule.

behouden behouden means “keep” or “retain” in het voordeel behouden. It follows kan and takes het voordeel as the thing that remains available.

zonder zonder means “without” and introduces what will be absent in zonder het vaste schema. It is used before the thing that is not included or not required.

schema schema means “schedule” in het vaste schema, referring to the fixed timetable of the class. It is the thing the speaker hopes to avoid while keeping the benefit.

Hobby's Hobby's means “hobbies,” the plural form of hobby, and refers to leisure activities in general. It is the subject of Hobby's moeten bij je leven passen, where the statement gives general advice.

moeten moeten expresses what should or must be the case in Hobby's moeten bij je leven passen. It gives the sentence a general guiding force and is followed by the activity phrase bij je leven passen.

bij bij means “with” or “suited to” in bij je leven passen. Together with passen, it expresses that something fits a person’s life rather than merely matching an ideal.

leven leven means “life” in bij je leven passen. It names the real circumstances that a hobby should fit.

passen passen means “fit” or “suit” in bij je leven passen. The pattern bij ... passen expresses suitability for a person, situation, or set of circumstances.

alleen alleen means “only” in niet alleen bij je ideale versie van jezelf. It limits the statement by saying that the hobby should not fit just one idealized image.

ideale ideale means “ideal” in je ideale versie van jezelf and describes the imagined best version of the person. The related base form is ideaal, and the exact form appears before versie.

versie versie means “version” in je ideale versie van jezelf. The phrase describes a particular conception of oneself, contrasted with the person’s actual life.

zelf zelf contributes the meaning “self” inside jezelf in versie van jezelf. Here it helps identify the person being referred to, rather than functioning as a separate standalone idea.

laat laat means “shows” in laat een pauze zien, where the pause provides information about whether the class is missed. The related citation form is laten, and the reusable expression is laten zien.

pauze pauze means “pause,” a temporary break from the painting class. In Misschien laat een pauze zien of ik de les mis, it is the proposed action whose effect the speaker wants to observe.

zien zien means “see” or contributes “show” in laat ... zien. In the expression laat een pauze zien, it refers to making a result or fact become noticeable.

mis mis means “miss” in of ik de les mis, meaning that the speaker feels the absence of the class. The citation form is missen, and the expression takes the missed class as its object.

Dat Dat means “that” and refers back to the idea of pausing the class. It lets the speaker evaluate the whole preceding proposal as better than the alternatives.

beter beter means “better” in Dat is beter dan ..., comparing the pause with suddenly quitting or forcing oneself. It is the comparative form related to goed and is commonly followed by dan when making this comparison.

plotseling plotseling means “suddenly” and describes stopping as an abrupt action in plotseling stoppen. It is used as an adverb to characterize how an action happens.

stoppen stoppen means “stop” or “quit” in plotseling stoppen, referring to ending the class or hobby. It names the abrupt alternative contrasted with taking a pause.

jezelf jezelf means “yourself” in jezelf dwingen and refers back to the person being addressed. It is used when the person being forced and the person doing the forcing are the same.

dwingen dwingen means “force” in jezelf dwingen, meaning to make yourself continue despite not wanting to. It appears after jezelf and names the action that the advice recommends avoiding.

Grammar Points

vaste + zelfstandig naamwoord

een vaste taak

un VAHS-tuh TAHK

a fixed task

With a de-word such as “taak”, the adjective gets -e: vast becomes vaste.

iets ontspannends

iets ontspannends

eets ont-SPAH-nunts

something relaxing

An adjective can be used as a noun after “iets”; it takes -s: ontspannend becomes ontspannends.

Dutch Vocabulary

allebei pron

ah-luh-BAY both

Een beetje van allebei.

doorgaan verb

DOHR-gahn to continue door wil gaan

Ik weet niet zeker of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles.

hobby noun

HOB-bee hobby

Misschien is de hobby van iets ontspannends veranderd in nog een verplichting.

interesse noun

in-tuh-RES-suh interest

Verlies je je interesse, of is de vaste verplichting te veel?

schilderen verb

SKHIL-dur-un to paint; painting

Ik vind schilderen leuk, maar de les voelt stressvol.

schilderles noun

SKHIL-dur-less painting class

Ik weet niet zeker of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles.

stressvol adj

STRESS-vol stressful

Ik vind schilderen leuk, maar de les voelt stressvol.

vast adj

VAHST fixed vaste

Verlies je je interesse, of is de vaste verplichting te veel?

veranderen verb

vur-AHN-dur-un to change veranderd

Misschien is de hobby van iets ontspannends veranderd in nog een verplichting.

verliezen verb

vur-LEE-zun to lose verlies

Verlies je je interesse, of is de vaste verplichting te veel?

verplichting noun

vur-PLIKH-ting obligation; commitment

Verlies je je interesse, of is de vaste verplichting te veel?

zeker adj

ZAY-kur sure; certain

Ik weet niet zeker of ik door wil gaan met de schilderles.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

sure; certain

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zeker

painting class

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schilderles

fixed

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vaste

both

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allebei