pursuit

Compared meaning: running after someone to catch them (noun).

比较义项：追逐、追赶某人或某物以将其捕获（名词）。

• pursuit 本词

  More formal and often official or written in tone (e.g. police pursuits, legal contexts); less natural for casual, playful chasing of people or animals.

  语气更正式，常用于官方或书面语境（如警方追捕、法律用语）；不太用于日常玩耍中对人或动物的轻松追赶。

  Police called off the high-speed pursuit after the suspect's car spun off the highway.

  嫌疑人的车冲出高速公路后，警方结束了这场高速追捕。

• chase

  The everyday, informal word for running after someone or something to catch them; suggests fast, active movement and fits casual or playful situations.

  更口语化、日常的说法，指为追上某人或某物而奔跑；强调快速、活跃的动作，适合轻松或玩耍的场合。

  The kids ran into the backyard for a game of chase.

  孩子们跑到后院去玩追逐游戏。

Pursuit and chase both mean running after someone to catch them. Pursuit is formal, used in official or written contexts like police pursuits; its sense 'a hobby' is not compared. Chase is the everyday, informal word, suggesting fast, active movement, fitting casual situations.

这两个词都能表示“追赶、追逐”的动作，但语气和场合不同：chase 更口语化、日常，强调快速、活泼的动态场景；pursuit 更正式，常用于警方追捕、法律或书面语境。这里不比较 pursuit 表示“消遣”或“职业（活动）”的意思。

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 本词

  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

  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。