How to Say "I Like You" in Japanese

好きです

suki desu

i like you in Japanese is translated as 好きです (suki desu).

Meaning: I like you (phrase)

Which one should you use?

For example, 大好きです expresses that you like or love someone very much.

Dropping the desu from the phrase makes it informal. For instance, using just 好き (suki) is common among friends or in casual settings.

suki desu

suki desu is a much more common and natural way to express romantic interest in Japanese.

In Japanese, 好き is grammatically an adjective meaning 'likable' rather than a verb. When you say 好きです, you are literally saying 'you are likable' to me.
In Japan, a direct 'I like you' can often be replaced by the question 付き合ってください (tsukiatte kudasai), which literally means 'Please go out with me'.
In Japanese culture, expressing 'I like you' is often considered much more heavy and significant than its casual English equivalent.

あなたのことが大好きです。
I like you very much.
This sentence shows how to express a very strong liking 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 demonstrates using the phrase to ask someone to start a relationship using 好きです.
Tatoeba #4153670 by tommy_san, translation #13572531 by CK
好きです。
I like you.
This is a simple way to say "I like you" using 好きです.
Tatoeba #3697521 by ii_desu, translation #410751 by CK
ねえ、君のこと大好きだよ。
Hey, I really like you.
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two people are walking in a park at sunset.

美咲 Misaki

健太さんのことが、好きです。
Kenta-san no koto ga, suki desu.
I like you, Kenta.
健太 Kenta

本当に？僕も美咲さんのことが好きです。
Hontou ni? Boku mo Misaki-san no koto ga suki desu.
Really? I like you too, Misaki.
美咲 Misaki

嬉しいです！
Ureshii desu!
I'm so happy!
健太 Kenta

ずっと一緒にいようね。
Zutto issho ni iyou ne.
Let's stay together forever.

Sources

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