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好き嫌い

suki kirai
noun★Intermediate💡 likes and dislikes
informal

Preferences for or against certain things, often based on personal taste.

子供の好き嫌いをなくすのは難しい。

It's hard to get rid of a child's likes and dislikes.

好き嫌いをはっきり言う人。

A person who clearly states their likes and dislikes.

💡

Often used to describe someone's strong personal preferences, especially in food or habits.

Collocations

好き嫌いが激しいto have strong likes and dislikes好き嫌いなくwithout bias or preference好き嫌いを言うto state one's preferences

Synonyms

好み好き嫌いの差好悪

Antonyms

無差別公平

Related Phrases

好きこそものの上手なれproverb
What one likes, one will do well

💡Pro Tip

Common Mistake: Separating '好き' and '嫌い'

Avoid translating '好き嫌い' as 'like dislike' or 'like and dislike' in English. The phrase functions as a single noun phrase meaning 'preferences' or 'likes and dislikes.' For example, '彼は好き嫌いが激しい' should be translated as 'He has strong likes and dislikes,' not 'He has strong like and dislike.'

⚡Gold Rule

Use in Context

Use '好き嫌い' to describe personal preferences, especially when discussing food, habits, or behaviors. It is not used for general likes or dislikes in a neutral sense (e.g., 'I like dogs' would not use this phrase).

📖Word Origin

Combines '好き' (suki, meaning 'like') and '嫌い' (kirai, meaning 'dislike'). The phrase emerged as a compound noun to describe personal preferences in the Edo period (1603–1868), reflecting the cultural emphasis on individual taste in Japanese society.

📝Usage Notes

Unlike English, which often separates 'likes' and 'dislikes,' Japanese combines them into a single noun phrase. It can refer to food preferences, hobbies, or even social behaviors. The phrase is neutral and does not imply judgment unless used in a negative context.

Word Breakdown

好き
like
root
+
嫌い
dislike
root
和英辞典

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