お気に入り
okiniiri[o̞kʲiɲ̟iiɾʲi]
The Japanese phrase for "something is your favourite" is お気に入り (okiniiri).
お気に入り is used to describe something or someone that is your favorite. There are several other ways to express preference depending on the nuance: 好きな is a general way to express that something is a favorite, while 最も好きな translates specifically to "most favorite". To convey that something is your "number one" favorite, you can use 一番. If you want to express a strong liking or love, use 大好き. If you are referring specifically to a food that you really, really love to eat, the word 大好物 is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "[Something] is my favorite" in a polite way, you add です to the end of お気に入り to form お気に入りです.
How do you pronounce it?
okiniiri
Did you know?
- The word お気に入り literally translates to 'entering the spirit' or 'entering the mind'. It suggests that an object has successfully entered your internal energy or mood.
- In Japanese web browsing and software, the 'bookmarks' or 'favorites' folder is almost always labeled as お気に入り.
- The prefix お in お気に入り is an honorific that adds a layer of politeness or refinement to the word.
Examples in context
- 私のお気に入りの映画は「君の名は。」です。My favorite movie is "Your Name."
- このお店の料理は本当に大好きです。I really love the food at this restaurant.
- 私の最も好きな季節は春です。My most favorite season is spring.
- この曲は本当に好きなんだよ。I really love this song.
- このゲームは僕の一番のお気に入りだ。This game is my absolute favorite.
- 彼女の料理は超好きだよ。I really, really love her cooking.
- 釣りが大好きI love fishing
- 彼 / 彼女が一番だHe/She is the best.
- これは私のお気に入りです。Kore wa watashi no okiniiri desu.This is my favorite.
- 彼のお気に入りの曲は何ですか？Kare no okiniiri no kyoku wa nan desu ka?What is his favorite song?
- 新しいお気に入りのカフェを見つけた。Atarashii okiniiri no kafe o mitsuketa.I found a new favorite cafe.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are looking at clothes in a store.
- 結衣 Yui大翔さんはどの色が一番好きですか？Hiroto-san wa dono iro ga ichiban suki desu ka?Hiroto, which color do you like best?
- 大翔 Hirotoこの青いシャツがお気に入りです。Kono aoi shatsu ga okiniiri desu.This blue shirt is my favourite.
- 結衣 Yuiとても似合っていますね。Totemo niatte imasu ne.It looks very good on you.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう、結衣さん。Arigatou, Yui-san.Thank you, Yui.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お気に入り, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お気に入り, CC BY-SA 4.0.
