Looking up...
好きな
sukina
favorite
これは私の好きな本です。
This is my favorite book.
informal
Something or someone that one likes or enjoys more than others; preferred.
彼は好きな食べ物は寿司です。
His favorite food is sushi.
これは私の好きな曲です。
This is my favorite song.
Used to describe preferences in a positive way. Often followed by の or を in sentences.
informal
Liking someone romantically; having affection for someone.
私は彼が好きです。
I like him (romantically).
In romantic contexts, this is a common way to express affection.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
How to use 好きな in sentences
Use 好きな + noun to describe preferences. Example: 好きな映画 = 'favorite movie'. To say 'I like X,' use X + が + 好きです. Example: 猫が好きです = 'I like cats.'
Gold Rule
Avoid confusion with 好きです
好きな modifies a noun (e.g., 好きな本 = favorite book), while 好きです is a standalone phrase meaning 'I like it' (e.g., 寿司が好きです = 'I like sushi').
Word Origin
From the verb 好く (すく, 'to like') + the nominalizing suffix な. The な suffix is used to modify nouns, indicating 'favorite' or 'preferred'.
Usage Notes
好きな is always followed by a noun (e.g., 好きな本 = favorite book). To express 'I like...' in a sentence, use 好きです (e.g., 寿司が好きです = 'I like sushi').
Word Breakdown
好
to like / to love
rootき
nominalizing suffix (connects to な)
suffixな
adjectival suffix modifying a noun
suffix和英辞典