が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手
ga suki / kirai / jouzu / heta
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
The object of liking, disliking and skill is marked with が.
To say you like, dislike, are good at or bad at something, the thing is marked with が: 音楽が好きです "I like music". In English "like" is a verb with an object, but in Japanese 好き is a な-adjective, so the thing you like is the subject ("music is likeable to me"). The same goes for 嫌い (dislike), 上手 (good at) and 下手 (bad at). To like doing something, add の to the verb: 泳ぐのが好きです.
Talking about tastes (food, music, sports), hobbies, and skills. 上手 is used for other people's skills; for your own use 得意 or simply say what you can do.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + が + 好きです／嫌いです／上手です／下手です
Visual diagram
- 私はtopic (the one who likes)
- 日本の音楽thing liked
- がmarks the liked thing
- 好きですな-adjective "likeable"
Natural examples
私は日本の音楽が好きです。
わたしは にほんの おんがくが すきです。
I like Japanese music.
Thing liked + が + 好きです.
弟は野菜が嫌いです。
おとうとは やさいが きらいです。
My younger brother dislikes vegetables.
Thing disliked + が + 嫌いです.
田中さんは料理が上手です。
たなかさんは りょうりが じょうずです。
Mr Tanaka is good at cooking.
Skill + が + 上手です (about someone else).
私は泳ぐのが好きです。
わたしは およぐのが すきです。
I like swimming.
Verb + の turns the action into a noun so が can follow.
私は歌が下手です。
わたしは うたが へたです。
I'm bad at singing.
Being modest about yourself with 下手 is natural.
Similar grammar and the difference
Same が for the object of a feeling word. Compare side by side
Also take が for their object. Compare side by side
好き, 嫌い, 上手, 下手 are all な-adjectives: 好きな, 好きじゃない. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 音楽を好きです。
- ✓
- 音楽が好きです。
- Why
- 好き is not a verb; its object takes が.
- ✗
- 好きくない
- ✓
- 好きじゃない
- Why
- 好き is a な-adjective despite ending in き.
- ✗
- 泳ぐが好きです。
- ✓
- 泳ぐのが好きです。
- Why
- A verb needs の before が to become a noun.
All four are な-adjectives: 好きな人, 好きじゃない. 大好き = love, 大嫌い = hate. Saying 上手 about your own skill sounds boastful; use 得意（とくい）instead. To say "like doing X", nominalise: 泳ぐのが好きです.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- If the word after the blank is 好き・嫌い・上手・下手, the particle is が.
- If a verb comes before 好き, the blank is のが (verb + の + が).
Frequently asked questions
What does が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手 mean?
The object of liking, disliking and skill is marked with が. To say you like, dislike, are good at or bad at something, the thing is marked with が: 音楽が好きです "I like music". In English "like" is a verb with an object, but in Japanese 好き is a な-adjective, so the thing you like is the subject ("music is likeable to me"). The same goes for 嫌い (dislike), 上手 (good at) and 下手 (bad at). To like doing something, add の to the verb: 泳ぐのが好きです.
How do you form が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手?
Noun + が + 好きです／嫌いです／上手です／下手です. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手 used?
Talking about tastes (food, music, sports), hobbies, and skills. 上手 is used for other people's skills; for your own use 得意 or simply say what you can do.
What is the difference between が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手 and がほしい?
Same が for the object of a feeling word.
What is the difference between が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手 and が分かる／ができる?
Also take が for their object.
What is a common mistake with が好き ／ 嫌い ／ 上手 ／ 下手?
Wrong: 音楽を好きです。 Right: 音楽が好きです。 好き is not a verb; its object takes が.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 私は りんご（ ）好きです。