誰かを好きになる
dareka o suki ni naru
The phrase "you like someone" is translated into Japanese as 誰かを好きになる (dareka o suki ni naru).
This phrase is used to describe the process of developing romantic feelings of attraction toward another person. In a romantic context, the related form 好きです is a common way to confess these feelings, often serving the function of "I love you."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "to become fond of someone" because it uses the verb なる (naru), which means "to become."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, the phrases 好きやねん and 好きやで are commonly used to express affection.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 好きになる emphasizes the process of the feeling developing, such as "to fall in love" or "to start liking someone", whereas the form 好きだ describes the state of already having the feeling.
How do you pronounce it?
dareka o suki ni naru
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, a formal confession of romantic feelings is called kokuhaku. This is a specific social ritual where one person explicitly tells the other 好きです to establish a committed relationship.
- While 好き is used for both 'like' and 'love', the word for deep, selfless love is 愛. Using 愛 is far rarer and can feel overwhelmingly intense or cinematic to a native speaker.
- The word 好き is technically a na-adjective rather than a verb. To say you like someone, you are actually describing yourself as being in a 'liking state' toward them.
Examples in context
- 一緒にいると楽しいですね。It's fun being with you.
- 誰かを好きになるのは、とても楽しいことです。Dareka o suki ni naru no wa, totemo tanoshii koto desu.Falling in love with someone is a very joyful thing.
- 急に誰かを好きになることはありますか？Kyuu ni dareka o suki ni naru koto wa arimasu ka?Do you ever suddenly fall for someone?
- 誰かを好きになるのは、勇気がいることです。Dareka o suki ni naru no wa, yuuki ga iru koto desu.It takes courage to fall in love with someone.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about love at a cafe.
- 健太 Kenta誰かを好きになると、毎日が楽しくなるよね。Dareka o suki ni naru to, mainichi ga tanoshiku naru yo ne.When you start liking someone, every day becomes fun, right?
- 陽葵 Himari本当にそう思うわ。健太はどう？Hontou ni sou omou wa. Kenta wa dou?I really think so. How about you, Kenta?
- 健太 Kenta実は、最近誰かを好きになった気がするんだ。Jitsu wa, saikin dareka o suki ni natta ki ga suru nda.Actually, I feel like I've fallen for someone recently.
- 陽葵 Himariえっ、本当？誰のことか教えてよ！Eh, hontou? Dare no koto ka oshiete yo!What, really? Tell me who it is!
