How to Say ‘I like soccer.’ in Japanese
サッカーが好きです。
sakkaa ga suki desu
[SAHK-kah ga skee dess]
💬 Usage Tip: The thing you like takes が, not を: 音楽が好きです "I like music." Also, 好き is said (suki), with the (u) barely heard.
Phrase Breakdown
サッカーが
sakkaa ga
soccer (as subject)
サッカー (sakkaa) has a small っ, so pause briefly before 'ka', then hold the long 'aa'. が marks what is liked.
サッカーが上手です。
I'm good at soccer.
Words in this phrase
サッカー
sakkaa
[SAHK-kah]
soccer
Loanword for soccer (football).
サッカーが好きです。
I like soccer.
が
ga
[ga]
subject marker
A particle marking the subject of the sentence.
興味がある分野を教えてください。
Please tell me the field you are interested in.
好きです。
suki desu
I like (it).
好き (suki) means 'liked'. The 'u' in 'su' is almost silent, so it sounds like 'ski desu'.
音楽が好きです。
I like music.
Words in this phrase
好き
suki
[skee]
like; fond of
Used to describe something or someone you like.
営業のお仕事がお好きですか。
Do you like sales work?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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