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When talking about hobbies, use this pattern to say what you like doing. In the picture, she likes reading books.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 3

〜のが好きです~no ga suki desu

like doing; be good at

Use 「〜のが好きです」 to treat an action as an activity you like; the same structure can describe being good at it.

Pattern
〜のが好きです
Romaji
~no ga suki desu
JLPT (approx.)
≈ N5
Course level
Beginner 3
Theme
New Life

How it works

  1. When talking about hobbies, use this pattern to say what you like doing. In the picture, she likes reading books.

    When talking about hobbies, use this pattern to say what you like doing. In the picture, she likes reading books.

  2. 「の」 turns the whole action 「本を読む」 into an activity that you can say you like.

    「の」 turns the whole action 「本を読む」 into an activity that you can say you like.

  3. Use the dictionary form of the verb before 「のが」: 読むのが, not 読みますのが.

    Use the dictionary form of the verb before 「のが」: 読むのが, not 読みますのが.

  4. Use the same structure to say what you are good at doing. The picture shows 「絵を描くのが得意です」.

    Use the same structure to say what you are good at doing. The picture shows 「絵を描くのが得意です」.

  5. 「好き」 means you like something; 「得意」 means you are good at it. Liking an activity does not always mean being good at it.

「好き」 means you like something; 「得意」 means you are good at it. Liking an activity does not always mean being good at it.

  • In the example, 「楽しい」 describes the activity of studying Japanese: doing it is enjoyable.

    In the example, 「楽しい」 describes the activity of studying Japanese: doing it is enjoyable.

  • In the reading example, 「を」 marks what is read; 「が」 marks the whole activity that is liked. Keep both particles.

    In the reading example, 「を」 marks what is read; 「が」 marks the whole activity that is liked. Keep both particles.

    • Example sentences

    • 本ほんhonをo読むよむyomuのnoがga好きです。すきですsukidesu

      I like reading books.

    • 日本にほんnihon語ごgoをo勉強べんきょうbenkyouするsuruのnoがga楽しいです。たのしいですtanoshiidesu

      Studying Japanese is fun.

    In a conversation

    • A
      趣味しゅみはわ何なんですか。か

      A: What are your hobbies?

    • B
      山やまを登るのぼるのが好きです。すきです

      B: I like climbing mountains.

    • A
      そうですか。か私わたしはわ絵えを描くえがくのが得意とくいです。です

      A: I see. I'm good at drawing.

    • B
      絵えを描くえがくのはわ楽しいですたのしいですか。か

      B: Is drawing fun?

    • A
      はい、はいとても楽しいです。たのしいです

      A: Yes, it's very fun.

    Check yourself

    1. Which sentence is correct?

      1. 山を登るのが好きです。
      2. 山を登るのが好きます。
      3. 山を登るが好きです。
      4. 山が登るのが好きです。
      Show answer

      Answer: A 山を登るのが好きです。

    2. Which sentence is correct?

      1. ピアノを弾くのが楽しいです。
      2. ピアノを弾くのが楽しくです。
      3. ピアノが弾くのが楽しいです。
      4. ピアノを弾くの楽しいです。
      Show answer

      Answer: A ピアノを弾くのが楽しいです。

    3. Which sentence is correct?

      1. 絵を描くのが得意です。
      2. 絵を描くのが得意ます。
      3. 絵に描くのが得意です。
      4. 絵を描くのが得意の。
      Show answer

      Answer: A 絵を描くのが得意です。

    Take the quiz

    More grammar in this theme

    • いらっしゃいますrespectful be, come, go
    • 〜と申しますformal humble self-introduction
    • 可能形ability or possibility
    • 〜ので／〜なのでreason; gentle explanation
    • 参りますhumble go or come
    • 〜ならif; under that condition
    • 〜のが好きですlike doing; be good at
    • 〜のは〜ですmake an activity the topic
    • 〜ようになりますbecome able; develop a habit
    Previous〜ならNext〜のは〜です

    Keep practising

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    Beginner 3
    New Life