How to Say ‘Like (polite)’ in Japanese
好きです
suki desu
[soo-kee dess]
💬 Usage Tip: With [好きです], the thing you like usually takes [が]: [読書が好きです], [料理が好きです]. Even though English says "I like...," Japanese builds it more like "... is liked."
Phrase Breakdown
好き
suki
[soo-kee]
liked; favorite
Na-adjective meaning "to like." Pattern: Nounが好きです = "I like (noun)." Polite and common in interviews.
私は読書が好きです。
I like reading.
です
desu
[dess]
to be (polite)
Makes the statement polite. 好きです is appropriate for interviews.
読書が好きです。
I like reading.
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