JLPT N5 reference · Adjectives and description

好き, 嫌い and 上手

好き, 嫌い, and 上手 are な-adjectives. The liked, disliked, or skilled-at item is commonly marked by が, while は can set or contrast the topic.

Core meaning and form

These patterns do not map word for word onto English transitive verbs. Be careful when describing your own skill with 上手, which can sound self-congratulatory.

X が好きだ: like X.
X が嫌いだ: dislike X.
X が上手だ: be good at X.

Examples in context

私は音楽が好きです。Watashi wa ongaku ga suki desu.I like music.

弟は野菜が嫌いです。Otōto wa yasai ga kirai desu.My younger brother dislikes vegetables.

田中さんは料理が上手です。Tanaka-san wa ryōri ga jōzu desu.Mr Tanaka is good at cooking.

Common errors

Do not treat 好き as a verb and attach を automatically.
Use 得意です or a modest expression carefully when discussing your own ability.

Quick summary

These words behave as な-adjectives.
The target commonly takes が.
は can add topic or contrast.