pastime

Compared meaning: an activity done for interest or work (noun).

比较义项：为兴趣或工作而从事的活动、消遣（名词）。

• pursuit

  Broader than pastime: can be a serious, sustained activity pursued as work or a career, not just leisure; more formal register; collocates with 'career', 'artistic pursuit', 'in pursuit of'.

  比pastime范围更广：可以是作为工作或事业而长期投入的严肃活动，不限于消遣；语气较正式；常与“career”“artistic pursuit”“in pursuit of”等搭配。

  He gave up his pursuit of a music career to study medicine instead.

  他放弃了追求音乐事业的道路，转而去学医了。

• pastime 本词

  Narrower than pursuit: a casual activity done purely for enjoyment in one's free time, never as work or a career; more informal, hobby-like register.

  比pursuit范围更窄：纯粹是在业余时间为了娱乐而做的随意活动，绝不用于工作或事业；语气较随意，带业余爱好的意味。

  Reading old letters became her favorite pastime during the holidays.

  阅读旧信件成了她假期里最喜欢的消遣。

Both words can mean a hobby. Pursuit is broader and formal: a serious activity followed as work or a career. Pastime is narrower and casual: done only for fun in free time, never as work. Pursuit can also mean 'chase', not compared here.

这两个词都可以表示“消遣、爱好”，但范围和语域不同：pursuit的范围更广，可以是正式、长期投入的事业或严肃追求的爱好，语气偏正式；pastime只指纯粹为娱乐而做的业余活动，从不用于工作或职业，语气随意。这里不比较pursuit表示“追逐、追赶”的义项。