好きです
suki desu
好きです (suki desu) is the Japanese way to say "I like you".
In Japanese, the subject ("I") and the object ("you") are often omitted when the context makes it clear who is speaking to whom.
Meaning: I like you (phrase)
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version of 好きです is 好きだ. In very casual speech, the copula (desu/da) can be dropped entirely, leaving just 好き.
How do you pronounce it?
suki desu
When do people say it?
While 好きです can mean "I like you" in a platonic sense, it is the standard way to confess romantic feelings in Japan.
Did you know?
- The word 好き is grammatically an adjective in Japanese, not a verb, meaning it literally translates to 'you are likable' rather than 'I like you'.
- While 好きです is used for romantic confessions, the word 愛してる ('I love you') is rarely spoken aloud in daily life and is often considered too heavy or dramatic for most couples.
- If you say 好きです to someone, you are often expected to follow it immediately with a request to start dating, such as 'Please go out with me'. Simply stating the feeling is often seen as an incomplete confession.
Examples in context
- あなたのことが大好きです。I like you very much.This sentence shows how to express liking someone very much using 好きです.Tatoeba #1452394 by bunbuku, translation #257095 by CK
- 好きです。付き合ってください。I like you. Please go out with me.This example shows how to use 好きです when asking someone to go out with you.Tatoeba #4153670 by tommy_san, translation #13572531 by CK
- 好きです。I like you.This sentence is a simple way to say I like you using 好きです.Tatoeba #3697521 by ii_desu, translation #410751 by CK
- あの人が好きだよ。I like that person.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are walking in a park at sunset.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くんのことが、ずっと好きです。Yota-kun no koto ga, zutto suki desu.I have liked you for a long time, Yota.
- 陽太 Yota本当？僕も結衣さんのことが好きです。Honto? Boku mo Yui-san no koto ga suki desu.Really? I like you too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui嬉しい！ずっと言いたかったんです。Ureshii! Zutto iitakattan desu.I'm so happy! I've wanted to say that for a long time.
- 陽太 Yotaこれからは、もっと一緒に過ごそうね。Kore kara wa, motto issho ni sugosou ne.Let's spend more time together from now on.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
