How to Say ‘I like (it).’ in Japanese
好きです。
suki desu
[soo-kee dess]
💬 Usage Tip: Basic and safe. To sound more casual: [好き] / [好きだよ]. To soften: [好きかも] (I might like it).
🇯🇵 In Japan: Using mild language early is common in Japan; [好きです] feels polite and steady rather than dramatic.
Phrase Breakdown
好き
suki
[soo-kee]
liked; favorite
“好き” expresses preference. With です, it becomes a polite self-introduction style statement.
カフェが好きです。
I like cafés.
です
desu
[dess]
to be (polite copula)
Polite ending. Good default tone with a new match or on a first date.
カフェが好きです。
I like cafés.
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