What does it mean word for word?
絵 (e) means "picture" or "painting". The verb 描く (kaku) means "to draw" or "to paint", and is used for both drawing with lines and painting/sketching. The particle の (no) is a nominalizer that turns the verb 描く into the noun phrase 描くの, meaning "the act of painting". The particle が (ga) is a subject marker that marks the act of painting as the thing being liked.
Which one should you use?
While 絵を描くのが好きです refers to the artistic act of drawing or painting a picture, you might use 絵を塗るのが好きです if you specifically mean the act of applying thick paint or coating a surface.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 絵を描くのが好きです is polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or acquaintances because of the です at the end. For an informal or plain style, you can replace です with だ to say 絵を描くのが好きだ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle の (no) is used here to turn the verb 描く (to paint) into a noun phrase 描くの (the act of painting) so that it can be the object of the liking. The particle が (ga) is used to mark the thing that is liked (the act of painting) as the subject of the predicate suki (liked).
How do you pronounce it?
e o kaku no ga suki desu
Did you know?
- The word 描く (kaku) sounds identical to the word for 'to write' (書く), though they use different characters. Context is the only way to know if someone likes to paint or write.
- In Japanese, the word 好き (suki) is actually an adjective meaning 'likable' rather than a verb meaning 'to like'. The sentence literally translates to 'painting is likable'.
- In Japanese calligraphy, the act of 'painting' characters is treated as a spiritual discipline called 書道 (shodo). Here, the word for 'writing' is used because characters are viewed as painted shapes.
Examples in context
- 私は絵を描くことが好きです。I like to paint
- 絵を描くのが好きです。I like painting
- 絵を描くのが好きなんだ。I really like painting
- 絵を描くのが大好きですI love painting
- 子供の頃から、絵を描くのが好きです。Kodomo no koro kara, e o kaku no ga suki desu.I have liked to paint since I was a child.
- 暇な時は、絵を描くのが好きです。Hima na toki wa, e o kaku no ga suki desu.When I am free, I like to paint.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui大翔さんは、趣味は何ですか？Hiroto-san wa, shumi wa nan desu ka?Hiroto, what is your hobby?
- 大翔 Hiroto僕は絵を描くのが好きです。Boku wa e o kaku no ga suki desu.I like to paint.
- 結衣 Yui素敵ですね！私も絵を描くのが好きです。Suteki desu ne! Watashi mo e o kaku no ga suki desu.That's lovely! I like to paint too.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当ですか？今度、絵を見せてください。Honto desu ka? Kondo, e o misete kudasai.Really? Please show me your paintings sometime.
