What does it mean word for word?
The word 大好き is formed by adding 大 (meaning big) to the front of 好き to act as an intensifier, expressing that you like something very much.
Which one should you use?
While 好き is the standard way to express liking, 大好き is used when you want to express a much stronger liking or love. In more formal settings, if you are asking someone about their interests, you might use the phrase ご興味がありますか to ask if they have any interest in something.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, 好き functions as a na-adjective. Because of this, it is often used with です to form a polite sentence, such as 好きです. In informal settings, 好き may be followed by the copula だ or can be left as is.
How do you pronounce it?
suki
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use 好き as a transitive verb with the particle を. In Japanese, the object of your liking is marked with the particle が instead.
Did you know?
- When using 好き to confess romantic feelings, it is often used as a substitute for 'I love you' because the latter can feel too heavy or grammatically formal.
- The word 好き is used in the term 好き嫌い to describe 'picky eating' or a general dislike of certain foods.
- In Japanese literature from the 10th century, the term used for 'liking' could often carry a much more intense, romantic, or even obsessive connotation than the casual 'like' used today.
Examples in context
- 彼のことが好きみたい。I seem to like him.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a seeming preference for a person using 好き.Tatoeba #10893297 by small_snow, translation #13693687 by terrywallwork
- みんな、好きみたいね。Everybody seems to like it.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a seeming preference for an object using 好き.Tatoeba #10963965 by small_snow, translation #5068206 by CK
- 水泳は、好きでしたよ。I used to like swimming.This sentence is useful for expressing a past preference using 好き.Tatoeba #11619822 by small_snow, translation #7337698 by CK
- 秋が好きです。I like autumn.
- お花はお好きですか。Do you like flowers?
- この映画が好き。I like this movie.
- 彼女が大好きだ。I love her.
- この曲が気に入っています。I like this song.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new cafe.
- 陽太 Yotaこのカフェ、好き？Kono kafe, suki?Do you like this cafe?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、すごく好き。Un, sugoku suki.Yeah, I like it a lot.
- 陽太 Yota結衣もここが好きなら、よかった。Yui mo koko ga suki nara, yokatta.I'm glad you like it here too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くんのおすすめだから、安心したよ。Yota-kun no osusume dakara, anshin shita yo.I felt relieved because it was your recommendation, Yota.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
