好きです
suki desu
The English phrase "I like you" is expressed in Japanese as 好きです (suki desu).
好きです is used to express that you like someone. In Japanese, the subject (I) and the object (you) are often omitted from the phrase, as the context typically makes it clear who is being liked and who is doing the liking.
Meaning: I like you (phrase)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase 好きです is a standard polite way to express your feelings. For a more informal tone used with close friends or peers, you can replace the polite です with the plain form だ, resulting in 好きだ. Other informal variations include Suki da yo and Kimi ga suki.
How does it change in a sentence?
Technically, the word 好き is a na-adjective rather than a verb. It describes a state of liking rather than a physical action.
How do you pronounce it?
suki desu
When do people say it?
In Japanese romantic contexts, 好きです is frequently used as a way to confess one's feelings, a practice known as kokuhaku, to initiate a relationship.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'I love you' with more intensity, you might use 愛してる, but this is often considered too heavy or dramatic for daily use compared to 好きです.
- Japanese culture has a specific term, 片思い, which describes the state of 'one-sided love' when you feel 好きです for someone but they do not feel the same.
- In romantic confessions, the phrase 付き合ってください is often added after 好きです to explicitly ask the person to go steady or officially date.
Examples in context
- あなたのことが大好きです。I like you very much.This sentence shows how to express liking someone very much using 好きです.Tatoeba #1452394 by bunbuku, translation #257095 by CK
- 好きです。付き合ってください。I like you. Please go out with me.This sentence demonstrates using 好きです as a confession to ask someone to start a relationship.Tatoeba #4153670 by tommy_san, translation #13572531 by CK
- 好きです。I like you.This sentence is a simple way to say 好きです.Tatoeba #3697521 by ii_desu, translation #410751 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki confesses her feelings to Ren in a park.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮君のことが、好きです。Ren-kun no koto ga, suki desu.Ren, I like you.
- 蓮 Ren本当？嬉しいな。Hontou? Ureshii na.Really? I'm so happy.
- 美咲 Misakiずっと前から、好きです。Zutto mae kara, suki desu.I've liked you for a long time.
- 蓮 Ren僕も、美咲さんのことが好きです。Boku mo, Misaki-san no koto ga suki desu.I like you too, Misaki.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
