How do you use "spare time" in a sentence?

In my spare time, I enjoy painting. She doesn't have much spare time these days. He spends his spare time volunteering.

spare time

Q: What does "spare time" mean?

Time when you are not working or busy; leisure time We say 'spare time' not 'extra time' (which means additional time in sports) or 'remaining time'. 'Spare' means available and not committed to obligations.

Collocation BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: Time when you are not working or busy; leisure time

空闲时间

tiempo libre

空き時間

여가 시간

We say 'spare time' not 'extra time' (which means additional time in sports) or 'remaining time'. 'Spare' means available and not committed to obligations.

我们说'spare time'而不是'extra time'（在体育中指加时赛）或'remaining time'。'Spare'意味着可用的、不用于义务的时间。

Decimos 'spare time' y no 'extra time' (que significa tiempo adicional en deportes) ni 'remaining time'. 'Spare' significa disponible y no comprometido con obligaciones.

「spare time」と言い、「extra time」（スポーツでは延長時間を意味する）や「remaining time」とは言いません。「spare」は義務に使われていない、利用可能な時間を意味します。

'spare time'이라고 하며, 'extra time'(스포츠에서 연장전을 뜻함)이나 'remaining time'이라고 하지 않습니다. 'spare'는 의무에 묶이지 않고 사용 가능한 상태를 뜻합니다.

Examples

In my spare time, I enjoy painting.
我空闲时间喜欢画画。
En mi tiempo libre, disfruto pintando.
空き時間には絵を描くのが好きです。
여가 시간에는 그림 그리는 것을 즐깁니다.
She doesn't have much spare time these days.
她最近没什么空闲时间。
Últimamente no tiene mucho tiempo libre.
彼女は最近あまり空き時間がありません。
그녀는 요즘 여가 시간이 별로 없다.
He spends his spare time volunteering.
他把空闲时间用来做志愿者。
Dedica su tiempo libre al voluntariado.
彼は空き時間にボランティアをしています。
그는 여가 시간에 봉사활동을 한다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: hobbies, lifestyle, work-life balance

Tone: casual

✓ Do Say

What do you do in your spare time?
你空闲时间做什么？
¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre?
空き時間に何をしていますか？
What do you do in your spare time? (여가 시간에 뭘 하세요?)
I have no spare time.
我没有空闲时间。
No tengo tiempo libre.
空き時間がありません。
I have no spare time. (여가 시간이 없다.)
In her spare time she reads.
她空闲时间看书。
En su tiempo libre lee.
彼女は空き時間に読書をします。
In her spare time she reads. (그녀는 여가 시간에 책을 읽는다.)

✗ Don't Say

What do you do in your extra time? (use 'spare' not 'extra' — 'extra time' is sports overtime)
你extra时间做什么？（用'spare'而不是'extra'——'extra time'指体育加时赛）
¿Qué haces en tu extra time? (se usa 'spare' y no 'extra' — 'extra time' es la prórroga en deportes)
extra timeに何をしていますか？（'extra time'ではなく'spare time'を使います——'extra time'はスポーツの延長時間です）
What do you do in your extra time? ('spare'를 사용하세요 — 'extra time'은 스포츠 연장전입니다)
What do you do in your remaining time? (use 'spare' not 'remaining' with time)
你remaining时间做什么？（用'spare'而不是'remaining'来搭配time）
¿Qué haces en tu remaining time? (se usa 'spare' y no 'remaining' con time)
remaining timeに何をしていますか？（timeには'remaining'ではなく'spare'を使います）
What do you do in your remaining time? (time과 함께 'remaining'이 아닌 'spare'를 사용하세요)

Origin & History

Natural English collocation — 'spare' means extra or available beyond what is needed for duties, naturally pairing with time for leisure hours.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal