〜が好き

〜が好き is an adjective pattern expressing like ~. Japanese adjectives conjugate for tense and negation unlike English adjectives, making them more similar to verbs. Understanding adjective patterns allows you to describe qualities, states, and degrees with precision.

This is a foundational pattern that you will use from day one of your Japanese studies.

When to Use#

• When expressing what you like or enjoy
• When asking about someone's preferences

When NOT to Use#

• In very formal writing where a more sophisticated expression would be expected

Example Sentences#

• 寿司が好きです。 — I like sushi.
• 何色が好きですか。 — What color do you like?
• 私は春が好きです。 — I like spring.

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜が好き may not map one-to-one with its English translation. Focus on understanding the Japanese usage through example sentences rather than relying on the English gloss.