Looking up...
To begin to feel romantic or strong affection for someone or something.
彼女が彼のことを好きになった。
She fell in love with him.
この曲を聴くと、子供の頃を思い出して好きになる。
Listening to this song makes me remember my childhood and feel fond of it.
Often used to describe the process of developing romantic feelings, not instantaneous attraction.
Use 好きになる when describing how feelings developed over time, not for immediate attraction. For example, 'I liked him at first, but then I fell in love' would be '最初は好きだったけど、そのうち好きになった'.
While often used romantically, 好きになる can describe growing fondness for anything (e.g., 'I've grown fond of this tea'). Context determines the meaning.
Combination of 好き (suki, 'to like') and なる (naru, 'to become'). The phrase emerged in the Edo period as a way to describe the gradual development of romantic feelings, distinguishing it from instantaneous attraction (惚れる).
Unlike 惚れる (hore-ru), which implies sudden infatuation, 好きになる emphasizes a gradual emotional shift. It can also be used for non-romantic contexts (e.g., 'I've grown fond of this city').