At a glance, 좋아요 and 좋아해요 may look similar. We use them to express something you like or prefer. However, they are not the same word. In this post, You will learn all about 좋아요 and 좋아해요 and the differences between them!
0. Words
Let's check out some words you'll need in this lesson. Listen and repeat each word! Try to organize new words into your Korean vocabulary worksheet!
movie | |
character, personality, nature | |
fruits | |
grapes | |
apples | |
bananas | |
K-pop | |
red (color) | |
blue (color) |
If you want to learn more about the colors, please click here to read my free lesson with a free worksheet!
1. All about 좋다
1. Pronunciation
Basic Form - to be good |
The first syllable "좋" has the final consonant "ㅎ" [h]. When "ㅎ" is located at the final consonant position, it becomes silent or weak, just like the 'h' in the English words "hour," "heir," or "honest," or the 'h' in Español. It's quite interesting, isn't it?
However, even though we don't pronounce this "ㅎ," it still exists in writing, and it can affect the letters around it. When "ㅎ" is close to "ㄷ," it can turn "ㄷ" into "ㅌ." In fact, that's how "ㅌ" was created - through the combination of "ㅎ" and "ㄷ." So, even though we write it as "좋다," we actually read it as "/조타/".
Present Tense |
The present tense of 좋다 is 좋아요. When pronouncing it, the final consonant ㅎ is silent and doesn't move on to the next no-sound letter ㅇ spot. You should read it as /조아요/, and avoid reading it as 좋아요 [jot-ah-yo] or 조하요 [jo-ha-yo].
Past Tense |
The past tense of 좋다 is 좋았어요. It follows the same rule. The ㅎ is silent and it doesn’t move on and steal the spot of ㅇ. But, ㅆ will move on, like usual. So, you will read 좋았어요 as /조아써요/.
2. Meanings
좋다 [jo-ta] is an adjective with many meanings. It can mean "good", "fine", "nice", "prefer", "better", "good-natured," and so on. It is commonly used to express that "something" or "someone" is good or fine to the speaker.
We can express "like" from these meanings. Again, watch out. 좋다 is an adjective! Even though "like" is a verb in English, and you can express "like" with 좋다, it is not a verb!
1
Q: 영화를 볼까요? Do you want to watch a movie?
A: 네, 좋아요. Yes, good. = Sure, sounds good.
2
어제 영화를 봤어요. I watched a movie yesterday.
아주 좋았어요. It was very good.
3. Expressions
If you want to use 좋다 as "preference or like", the expression N이/가 좋아요 can be used. N refers to a noun and 이/가 is the subject marker.
In a statement, "like" expresses the speaker's preference. In a question, it is used to ask the listener's preference. That means you can't talk about the third-person or being's preference (he/she/it).
N이/가 좋아요. I like N.
저는 사과가 좋아요. I like apples.
= 사과가 좋아요. (I) like apples.
Even though you don't add "I 저는", we can tell it is the sentence about yourself, as a statement 좋아요 meant to express the speaker's preference.
N이/가 좋아요? Do you like N?
사과가 좋아요? Do you like apples?
사과가 좋아요, 포도가 좋아요? Do you like apples or do you like grapes?
뭐가 더 좋아요? Which one do you prefer?
You can replace the subject marker with the topic marker 은/는 as well. In that case, you imply the contrasting vibe.
사과는 좋아요. 하지만 포도는 싫어요. I like apples but I don't like grapes.
<Language Tips!>
When it means other than "like" you can still see the third person as the subject.
그녀는 성격이 좋아요. She has a good personality.
제인 씨는 목소리가 좋아요. Jane has a good voice.
오늘 날씨가 좋아요. The weather is good today.
For these examples above, 좋아요 is used as "good," not "like". In this case, you don't have to worry about the first or second person.
4. The Antonyms
As 좋다 has so many meanings, it also has many versions of antonyms. I'll show you each one.
1. Good ↔ Bad
When 좋다 is used to mean "good" the opposite word is 나쁘다 which means bad. The present tense is 나빠요 and the past tense is 나빴어요. Also, you can use the negative adverb 안 and say 안 좋다. It means not good.
오늘 날씨가 좋아요. The weather is good today.
↔ 오늘 날씨가 나빠요. The weather is bad today.
오늘 날씨가 안 좋아요. The weather is not good today.
2. Like ↔ Dislike
When 좋다 is used to express "like" the antonym is 싫다. It is also an adjective and shows "dislike". The present tense form is 싫어요 and the past tense form is 싫었어요.
저는 포도가 좋아요. I like grapes.
↔ 저는 포도가 싫어요. I don't like grapes.
(X) 진수 씨는 포도가 싫어요. Jinsu doesn't like grapes.
↳ Just like 좋다, you can't express the third person's dislike.
2. All about 좋아하다
1. Pronunciation
Basic Form - to like |
The final consonant ㅎ is a silent sound. It can't affect ㅇ because it doesn't have any sound. So, you can read it as /조아하다/ [jo-ah-ha-da].
Present Tense | |
Past Tense |
The present tense of 좋아하다 is 좋아해요. You can pronounce it as /조아해요/. The past tense form is 좋아했어요 and you will read it as /조아해써요/.
2. Meaning
좋아하다 is a verb meaning "to like". Simple, right? In a statement, you can express not only the speaker's preference but also the second or third person or being's preference as well!
1
저는 사과를 좋아해요. I like apples.
2
유리 씨, 무슨 과일을 좋아해요? Hey Yuri, what fruits do you like?
3
민수 씨는 사과를 좋아해요?
Depending on the context it can be the two meanings below.
① Minsu, do you like apples?
② Does Minsu like apples?
4
지나 씨는 케이팝을 좋아해요. Jina likes the K-pop songs.
3. Expressions
Since 좋아하다 is a verb, we need an object with an object marker. 을/를 is the object marker and you can attach it after the noun.
유리 씨는 BTS를 좋아해요. Yuri likes BTS.
Q: 존 씨는 블랙핑크를 좋아해요? John, do you like BLACKPINK?
A: 네, 좋아해요. Yes, I do.
3. The Antonym
The antonym of 좋아하다 is 싫어하다. It means "hate" or "dislike".
저는 겨울을 좋아해요. I like winter.
↔ 저는 겨울을 싫어해요. I don't like winter.
샘 씨는 바나나를 좋아해요. Sam likes bananas.
↔ 샘 씨는 바나나를 싫어해요. Sam dislikes bananas.
3. Comparison
You've learned all about 좋다 and 좋아하다. Let's compare the two!
1
좋다 is an adjective, meaning "good," "fine," or even "like" based on its original meanings. While 좋아하다 is a verb that only means "like".
2
To make an expressions meaning "like," you use the subject marker to 좋다 and the object marker to 좋아하다. Make sure to use the right markers!
N이/가 좋아요:Subject marker 이/가 + adjective 좋아요
N을/를 좋아해요: Object marker 을/를 + verb 좋아해요
(X) N을/를 좋아요. - Wrong sentence
Of course, you can add the subject marker 이/가 or the topic marker 은/는 to 좋아해요 to show "who" likes what(object). For example, to explain Jane likes apples, we can say "제인 씨는 사과를 좋아해요."
3
"이/가 좋아요." can't be used with a third person. "을/를 좋아해요" can be used with all subjects.
그는 사과를 좋아해요. He likes apples
(X) 그는 사과가 좋아요. - It's wrong sentence.
4
Now, you may wonder. So if you can use both 좋다 and 좋아하다 with the first person "I", then how they can be different? For example, the two examples below are both grammatically correct sentences.
나는 사과를 좋아해요.
나는 사과가 좋아요.
나는 사과를 좋아해요 is pretty simple. You can literally translate it "I like apples." Meanwhile, 나는 사과가 좋아요 can have more background.
Remember, the original meaning of 좋아요? Yes, it means "good." So, 나는 사과가 좋아요 can be translated as "I am good with apples." or "Apples are good for me."
You can imagine someone asking you if you want apples or bananas for lunch, and you choose apples.
Q: 사과를 좋아해요? Do you like apples?
A: 네, 사과를 좋아해요. Yes, I like apples.
↪ It's pretty simple. Nothing complicates!
Q: 무슨 과일을 좋아해요. What fruit do you like?
A: 저는 사과를 좋아해요. I like apples.
↪ You are simply expressing what you like.
Q: 뭐가 좋아요? 사과? 바나나? What do you like? Apples? Bananas?
A: 사과가 좋아요. Apples are good for me. = I prefer apples. = I like apples.
↪ The situation that you have to choose from options. Then, you use "좋아요."
5
Some people say "이/가 좋아요" can be used to express what you "most" like. However, you can also use "을/를 좋아해요" to express to express the same thing.
As long as you use the superlative words! Those words are like "제일 [jae-il]" or "가장 [ga-jang]" which means the most or best.
사과가 제일 좋아요. = 사과를 제일 좋아해요. = I like apples the most.
4. Examples
1
Q: 케이팝을 좋아해요? Do you like K-pop?
A: 네, 좋아해요. Yes, I do.
Just like in English, you need to use 좋아해요 to simply ask "like" questions.
2
(On the flight, you have two options for a meal.)
Q: 비빔밥이 좋아요, 김밥이 좋아요? Do you like bibimbap or gimbap?
A: 비빔밥이 좋아요. I like bibimbap.
비빔밥을 주세요.Please give me a bibimbap.
When you were asked by "좋아요?" it is natural to answer with "좋아요" as well.
3
Q: 누가 케이팝을 좋아해요? Who likes K-pop?
A: 줄리 씨가 케이팝을 좋아해요. Julie likes K-pop.
= 줄리 씨가 좋아해요. Julie does.
Again, if you were asked by "좋아해요" ending, you can answer with "좋아해요" as well! The questions start with 누가. It means "who". When you answer this "누가" question, it is natural to start the sentence with the subject marker. Since the object part(케이팝을) is pretty obvious, you can omit it.
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet: Differences between 좋아요 and 좋아해요
It's review time! Let’s take a glance at the differences using the chart!
Even though 좋아요 and 좋아해요 look very similar and the meanings can be similar as well, there are still some differences. The most important thing you have to remember is simple. 좋아하다 is a verb, that simply means "to like" while 좋다 is an adjective and the basic meaning is "to be good."
Don't forget to practice your writing! I prepared the free and printable PDF Korean practice worksheet! Please download the quiz and solve it with a pencil. Check your answers with the included answer sheet.
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