Translation guide
This entry covers how to talk about personal preferences, tastes, and things you like or dislike in Japanese. It focuses on natural expressions for stating likes and dislikes, asking about preferences, and describing general tastes.
Expressing what you like and dislike in general, such as foods, activities, or things.
The most basic and common way to say you like or dislike something. 好き (すき) means 'like', 嫌い (きらい) means 'dislike/hate'. The thing you like/dislike is marked with が.
I like cats.
He dislikes natto.
Softer ways to express dislike or non-dislike. 好きじゃない means 'don't like', 嫌いじゃない means 'don't dislike' (i.e., somewhat like).
I don't like green peppers.
Emphatic forms: 大好き means 'love/like very much', 大嫌い means 'hate/dislike very much'.
I love sushi.
Asking someone what they like or dislike, or if they like a specific thing.
Standard questions: 'What do you like?' and 'What do you dislike?'. Use 何 (なに) for 'what'.
What foods do you like?
What foods do you dislike?
Asking if someone likes or dislikes a specific thing. The topic marker は replaces が in questions.
Do you like coffee?
Describing your overall likes and dislikes, often using nouns like 好み (このみ) or 趣味 (しゅみ).
Means 'taste' or 'preference'. Often used in phrases like 好みの問題 (a matter of taste) or 好みに合う (to suit one's taste).
Tastes differ from person to person.
Primarily means 'hobby', but can also refer to one's tastes or interests, especially in refined areas like art or fashion.
A compound noun meaning 'likes and dislikes', often used when talking about picky eating or general preferences.
Going beyond simple like/dislike to express nuanced feelings, such as 'not very fond of' or 'can't stand'.
Means 'don't like very much'. あまり with negative softens the statement.
I don't really like sweet things.
苦手 (にがて) means 'weak point' or 'not good with'. Used for things you're not fond of or not good at handling. ちょっと softens it.
Means 'can't stand' or 'unbearable'. Stronger than 嫌い.
I can't stand this heat.
In Japanese, 好き and 嫌い are na-adjectives, not verbs. So you say Nが好きです (literally 'N is liked'), not 'I like N' with a verb. Avoid direct translations like 私はNを好む (このむ), which is more literary and less common in daily speech.
好む (このむ) is a verb meaning 'to prefer' or 'to like', but it is more formal and literary. In everyday conversation, 好き is much more natural. Use 好む in writing or formal contexts.
He prefers sweet things. (literary)
When stating a general like/dislike, use が: 猫が好きです (I like cats). When contrasting or making a topic, use は: 猫は好きですが、犬は嫌いです (I like cats, but I dislike dogs). In questions, は is common: 猫は好きですか？
あの映画は嫌いじゃないです。
I don't dislike that movie. (I kind of like it.)
彼女は虫が大嫌いです。
She hates bugs.
Do you dislike spicy food?
This doesn't suit my taste.
He has good taste, doesn't he?
Please don't be picky (about food).
He has strong likes and dislikes.
I'm not very good at speaking in public. (I don't like it much.)