あなたが好きです
anata ga suki desu
I like you in Japanese is あなたが好きです (anata ga suki desu).
In Japanese, the expression literally translates to 'you are likable' or 'liking exists toward you'.
Meaning: I like you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The particle が marks the person who is the object of the liking, even though the English translation is 'I like you'.
Which one should you use?
You can create a much stronger expression by adding 大 (meaning 'big') to the front of the word, resulting in 大好きです, which means 'I love you' or 'I really like you'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a much more casual and intimate tone, you can drop the です and add よ to say 好きだよ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle が marks the person who is being liked.
How do you pronounce it?
anata ga suki desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use the word あなた (anata) for 'you'. In natural Japanese, it is more common to use the person's name or to omit the subject entirely.
Did you know?
- In Japanese schools, a confession of love is called a 告白 (kokuhaku), and it often takes the form of a formal meeting where one person tells the other 好きです to officially start a relationship.
- In many Japanese romantic contexts, saying 好きです is often considered more impactful and sincere than the literal phrase for 'I love you', which can feel too heavy or performative.
- The word 好き (suki) is actually an adjective in Japanese, meaning 'likable', rather than a verb like the English word 'like'.
Examples in context
- 本当は、あなたが好きです。Hontou wa, anata ga suki desu.To tell the truth, I like you.
- やっと言えました。あなたが好きです。Yatto iemashita. Anata ga suki desu.I finally said it. I like you.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are talking privately after school.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、伝えたいことがあります。Hiroto-kun, tsutaetai koto ga arimasu.Hiroto, there is something I want to tell you.
- 大翔 Hirotoなあに？Naani?What is it?
- 結衣 Yui実は、あなたが好きです。Jitsu wa, anata ga suki desu.Actually, I like you.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう。僕も同じ気持ちだよ。Arigatou. Boku mo onaji kimochi da yo.Thank you. I feel the same way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I like you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
