好きな教科
sukina kyouka
The English phrase "my favourite subject" is translated into Japanese as 好きな教科 (sukina kyouka).
This phrase refers to a school course or an area of study that a person likes more than any other.
Which one should you use?
The term 好きな教科 (sukina kyouka) is used specifically for school subjects.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, the possessive "my" is often omitted from this phrase when the context makes it clear that the speaker is talking about their own preference.
How do you pronounce it?
sukina kyouka
Did you know?
- If you are asked about your 'favourite subject' during a job interview, you should avoid using 好き (suki) and instead use 得意 (tokui). While 好き focuses on your affection for a topic, 得意 signals that you are actually skilled and proficient in it.
- While 教科 (kyouka) is used for school subjects, using it at a university would sound like you are a primary school student, as adults use 科目 (kamoku) instead.
- The character 科 in 教科 (kyouka) is also used to describe a medical department in a hospital, such as the internal medicine or pediatric department.
Examples in context
- 私の好きな教科は数学です。watashi no sukina kyōka wa sūgaku desu.My favourite subject is mathematics.
- 一番好きな教科は何ですか？ichiban sukina kyōka wa nan desu ka?What is your favourite subject?
Example conversation
Two students are talking about school.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さん、好きな教科はある？Hiyori-san, suki na kyōka wa aru?Hiyori, do you have a favourite subject?
- 陽葵 Himari私は歴史が好きな教科だよ。Watashi wa rekishi ga suki na kyōka dayo.History is my favourite subject.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうなんだ。僕は理科が好きだな。Sō nanda. Boku wa rika ga suki da na.I see. I like science.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くんは理科が得意そうだね。Hiroto-kun wa rika ga tokui sō da ne.You seem to be good at science, Hiroto.
