In traditional Chinese culture, which often values moderation (中庸, zhōngyōng) and social harmony, an overt display of 激情 (jīqíng) could be viewed as a potential disruption. Uncontrolled emotion was often seen as something to be restrained. However, in modern contexts, 激情 has a more complex role. During certain historical periods, “revolutionary passion” (革命激情, gémìng jīqíng) was a highly praised virtue. Today, it is often used to describe positive dedication in creative fields, sports, and entrepreneurship. The key difference from the Western concept of “passion” is in scope and duration. In English, you might say, “My passion is gardening.” This implies a long-term, identity-defining hobby. In Chinese, saying “我的激情是园艺 (Wǒ de jīqíng shì yuányì)” would sound very strange. 激情 is the *feeling* of intense enthusiasm you have *while* gardening, not the hobby itself. It's a state, not a static interest. You would use 爱好 (àihào) for a hobby.
激情 (jīqíng) is a strong word used across various contexts, with connotations that can be positive, neutral, or even negative.
The most common mistake for English speakers is using 激情 (jīqíng) as a direct substitute for the English word “passion” when referring to a hobby or a general interest.
Essentially, 激情 is the emotional “fuel,” while an 爱好 (àihào) is the “vehicle” or activity. You have 激情 for your 爱好.