What does it mean word for word?
ご飯 (gohan) means "rice" or "meal", and can also literally mean "cooked rice". The particle が acts as a subject marker to indicate the object of one's affection or preference.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context, you can include or omit the subject "I" (watashi wa). To add emphasis to your liking, you can use 大好き (daisuki) or とても好き (totemo suki).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal version of the phrase ends with です (desu). To make the sentence informal and suitable for friends or family, replace です with だ (da). In casual conversations, you can even shorten the expression to gohan suki!
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle が is used to mark the object of one's preference.
How do you pronounce it?
gohan ga suki desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the object marker を (wo) with this phrase. English speakers often mistakenly say ご飯を好きです, but you should use が instead.
Did you know?
- The word 好き (suki) is technically a 'na-adjective' meaning 'likable' rather than a verb meaning 'to like'. This is why it requires the particle が instead of the object marker を.
- While ご飯 refers to the cooked rice you eat, the word for the raw grain itself is completely different: 米.
- In Japanese culture, rice is so central that the word ご飯 (gohan) is often used as a synonym for 'breakfast' or 'dinner' regardless of what is actually being served.
Examples in context
- はい、私はご飯が好きです。Yes, I like rice.
- ご飯好き？Do you like rice?
- うん、ご飯が好きだよ。Yeah, I like rice.
- 炊きたてのご飯が大好きです。I love freshly cooked rice.
- ご飯が好きです。gohan ga suki desu.I like rice.
- 白いご飯が好きです。shiroi gohan ga suki desu.I like white rice.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are eating lunch together.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さんは、何が好きですか？misaki-san wa, nani ga suki desu ka?Misaki, what do you like?
- 美咲 Misaki私は、ご飯が好きです。watashi wa, gohan ga suki desu.I like rice.
- 蓮 Ren僕も、ご飯が好きです。boku mo, gohan ga suki desu.I like rice too.
- 美咲 Misaki嬉しいです！ureshii desu!I'm happy to hear that!
