Which one should you use?
좋아하다 is a transitive verb meaning "to like (something/someone)". In contrast, 좋다 is an adjective meaning "to be good" or "to be pleasing", used to express that something is inherently good. While 좋아하다 is the standard and most frequently used form, 마음에 들다 translates literally to "to be pleasing to the heart" and serves as a slightly more formal expression.
How does it change in a sentence?
The way you conjugate the verb depends on the social context: 좋아해요 is the polite form used most commonly in everyday conversation. 좋아해 is the informal form used with close friends or people younger than you. Finally, 좋아합니다 is the formal form used in professional settings, news broadcasts or when speaking to someone of much higher social status.
How do you pronounce it?
joahada
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 좋다 (to be good) when they intend to use the transitive verb 좋아하다 (to like) to express their preference for an object.
Did you know?
- When confessing romantic feelings, Koreans often use 좋아해요 (I like you) as a softer, more cautious alternative to 사랑해요 (I love you).
- The verb 좋아하다 is actually a compound that literally means 'to do the act of being good'. It combines the stem of 'to be good' with the verb 'to do'.
- While 좋아하다 is used for general preferences, the expression 마음에 들다 literally means 'to enter the heart'. It is often used when someone is impressed by the quality or appearance of something for the first time.
Examples in context
- 저는 음악을 좋아합니다.I like music.
- 제가 그 옷을 좋아해요.I like that clothing.
- 그 사람이 마음에 들어요.I like that person.
- 이 노래 좋아해?Do you like this song?
- 나는 그 영화를 좋아해.I like that movie.
- 이 신발 진짜 좋아.I really like these shoes.
- 저는 축구를 좋아해요.I like soccer.
- 나는 여행을 좋아해.I like traveling.
- 너무 친절해서 그 친구가 마음에 들어.I like that friend because they are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 좋아하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 좋아하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
