カメが好きです
kame ga suki desu
The English phrase "I like turtles" is translated into Japanese as カメが好きです (kame ga suki desu).
This phrase is used to express a personal fondness for turtles. The word kame means "turtle", while suki desu means "like".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kame, which literally means "turtle" and suki, which functions as a na-adjective meaning "liking" or "fondness".
Which one should you use?
You can intensify the feeling by using daisuki, which means "really like" or "love". You can also add totemo to express that you like them very much, as in Kame ga totemo suki!
How does it change in a sentence?
In this sentence structure, the particle ga is used to mark the object of one's liking. Although it translates to "like", the word suki functions as a na-adjective rather than a verb.
How do you pronounce it?
kame ga suki desu
Did you know?
- Turtles are central to the 'Minogame' legend, where a turtle grows a trailing fringe of seaweed on its shell that looks like a straw raincoat.
- While kame refers to turtles, the word kame also refers to a traditional large ceramic jar used for fermentation or water storage.
- In Japan, turtles are symbols of longevity and are often associated with the phrase tsuru wa sennen, meaning 'the crane lives a thousand years and the turtle ten thousand'.
Examples in context
- カメが好きです。Kame ga suki desu.I like turtles.
- 実は、カメが好きです。Jitsu wa, kame ga suki desu.Actually, I like turtles.
- 子供の頃から、カメが好きです。Kodomo no koro kara, kame ga suki desu.I have liked turtles since I was a child.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are talking about their favorite animals at a zoo.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんは、どんな動物が好きですか？Ren-san wa, donna doubutsu ga suki desu ka?Ren, what kind of animals do you like?
- 蓮 Ren僕は犬が好きです。美咲さんは？Boku wa inu ga suki desu. Misaki-san wa?I like dogs. How about you, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misaki私は、カメが好きです。Watashi wa, kame ga suki desu.I like turtles.
- 蓮 Renそうですか。可愛いですね。Sou desu ka. Kawaii desu ne.I see. They are cute, aren't they?
