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!
<Table of Contents>
0. Words
영화 [young-wha] movie
빨간색 [bbal-gan-saek] red (red color)
파란색 [pa-lan-saek] blue (blue color)
성격 [seong-gyeok] character, personality, nature
사과 [sa-gwa] apples
포도 [po-do] grapes
바나나 [ba-na-na] banana
케이팝 [kae-ee-pap] K-Pop
1. Pronunciation Tips
Before we begin, let's learn how to read the words of today, 좋다 and 좋아하다.
A. 좋다 and its conjugated words.
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/" [jo-ta].
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/ [jo-ah-yo], and avoid reading it as 좋아요 [jot-ah-yo] or 조하요 [jo-ha-yo].
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/ [jo-ah-sseo-yo].
B. 좋아하다 and its conjugated words.
Based on the fact above, can you try to read 좋아하다? The final consonant ㅎ is a silent sound and doesn't affect ㅇ. So, you can read it as /조아하다/ [jo-ah-ha-da].
The present tense of 좋아하다 is 좋아해요. You can pronounce it as /조아해요/ [jo-ah-hae-yo]. The past tense form is 좋아했어요 and you will read it as /조아해써요/ [jo-ah-hae-sseo-yo].
2. All about 좋다
1. What is 좋다?
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!
The present tense of 좋다 is 좋아요 [jo-ah-yo] and the past tense form is 좋았어요 [jo-ah-sseo-uo]. Here are some examples of using this adjective.
1
오늘 날씨가 좋아요. [oh-neul nal-ssi-ga jo-ah-yo] The weather is good today.
2
Q: 영화를 볼까요? [young-wha-leul bol-gga-yo?] Do you want to see a movie?
A: 네, 좋아요. [nae, jo-ah-yo] Yes, good. = Sure, sounds good.
3
어제 영화를 봤어요. [eo-jae young-wha-leul ba-sseo-yo.] I watched a movie yesterday.
아주 좋았어요. [ah-ju jo-ah-sseo-yo] It was very good.
4
Q: 빨간색하고 파란색 중에 뭐가 더 좋아요? [bbal-gan-saek-ha-go pa-lan-saek joong-ae mwo-ga deo jo-ah-yo?] Which one do you prefer, red or blue?
A: 파란색이 더 좋아요. [pa-lan-sae-gi deo-jo-ah-yo] Blue is better. = I like blue more.
5
그는 성격이 좋아요. [geu-neun seong-gyeo-gi jo-ah-yo] He has a good nature. = He has a good personality.
2. Expression: N이/가 좋아요.
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. [jeo-neun jo-ah-yo] I like apples.
= 사과가 좋아요. [sa-gwa-ga jo-ah-yo] (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? [sa-gwa-ga jo-ah-yo?] Do you like apples?
<Language Tip!>
When it meant other than "like" you can still see the third person as the subject.
그녀는 성격이 좋아요. [geu-nyeo-neun seong-gyeo-gi jo-ah-yo] She has a good nature.
↪ 좋아요 is used to mean "good" not "like".
3. The Antonyms
As 좋다 has so many meanings, it also has many versions of antonyms.
1. Good ↔ Bad
When 좋다 is used to mean "good" the opposite word is 나쁘다 [na-bbeu-da] which means bad. The present tense is 나빠요 [na-bba-yo] and the past tense is 나빴어요 [na-bba-sseo-yo]. Also, you can use the negative adverb 안 and say 안 좋다 [an jo-ta]. 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 [sil-ta]. It is also an adjective and shows "dislike". The present tense form is 싫어요 [si-leo-yo] and the past tense form is 싫었어요 [si-leo-sseo-yo].
나는 포도가 좋아요. [na-neun po-do-ga jo-ah-yo] I like grapes.
↔ 나는 포도가 싫어요. [na-neun po-do-ga si-leo-yo] 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.
3. All about 좋아하다
1. What is 좋아하다?
좋아하다 [jo-ah-ha-da] is a verb meaning "like". Simple, right? The present tense is 좋아해요 [jo-ah-hae-yo] and the past tense is 좋아했어요 [jo-ah-hae-sseo-yo]. 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
나는 사과를 좋아해요. [na-neun sa-gwa-leul jo-ah-hae-yo] I like apples.
2
민수 씨는 사과를 좋아해요? [min-su ssi-neun sa-gwa-leul jo-ah-hae-yo?]
(Depending on the context,) a. Minsu, do you like apples? b. Does Minsu like apples?
3
우리 강아지는 고구마를 좋아해요. [u-li gang-ah-ji-neun go-gu-ma-leul jo-ah-hae-yo]
My puppy likes sweet potatoes.
2. Expressions: N을/를 좋아하다
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. [u-li ssi-neun BTS-leul jo-ah-hae-yo] Yuri likes BTS.
Q: 존 씨는 블랙핑크를 좋아해요? [jon ssi-neun beul-laek-ping-keu-leul jo-ah-hae-yo?] John, do you like BLACKPINK?
A: 네, 좋아해요. [nae, jo-ah-hae-yo] Yes, I do.
3. The Antonym
The antonym of 좋아하다 is 싫어하다 [si-leo-ha-da]. It means "hate" or "dislike".
저는 겨울을 좋아해요. [jeo-neun gyeo-u-leul jo-ah-hae-yo] I like winter.
↔ 저는 겨울을 싫어해요. [jeo-neun gyeo-u-leul si-leo-hae-yo] I don't like winter.
샘 씨는 바나나를 좋아해요. [saem ssi-neun ba-na-na-leul jo-ah-hae-yo] Sam likes bananas.
↔ 샘 씨는 바나나를 싫어해요. [saem ssi-neun ba-na-na-leul si-leo-hae-yo] Sam dislikes bananas.
4. 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 not to use N을/를 좋아요 because an adjective can't have an object!
N이/가 좋아요.:Subject marker 이/가 + adjective 좋아요
N을/를 좋아해요.: Object marker 을/를 + verb 좋아해요
(X) N을/를 좋아요. - Wrong sentence
But there is nothing wrong 좋아해요 having the subject marker. Especially in a situation where the object part is obvious, it can even disappear.
(The subject)이/가 N을/를 좋아해요.
= (The subject)이/가 좋아해요.
= The subject likes N.
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.
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.
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.
5. Examples
1
Q: 케이팝을 좋아해요? [kae-ee-pa-beul jo-ah-hae-yo?] Do you like K-pop?
A: 네, 좋아해요. [nae, jo-ah-hae-yo] Yes, I do.
↪ Just like 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? [bi-bim-ba-bi jo-ah-yo, gim-ba-bi jo-ah-yo?] Do you like bibimbap or gimbap?
A: 비빔밥이 좋아요. [bi-bim-ba-bi jo-ah-yo] I like bibimbap.
비빔밥을 주세요.[bi-bim-ba-beul ju-sae-yo] Please give me bibimbap.
↪ When you were asked by "좋아요?" it is natural to answer with "좋아요" as well, not "좋아해요."
3
Q: 누가 케이팝을 좋아해요? [nu-ga kae-ee-pa-beul jo-ah-hae-yo?] Who likes K-pop?
A: 줄리 씨가 케이팝을 좋아해요. [jul-li ssi-ga kae-ee-pa-beul jo-ah-hae-yo] Julie likes K-pop.
= 줄리 씨가 좋아해요. [jul-li ssi-ga jo-ah-hae-yo] Julie does.
↪ The questions start with 누가 [nu-ga]. It means "who". When you answer this "누가" question, it is natural to start the sentence with the subject marker. Since the object part can be omitted when it is repeated, you can simply say the subject and the predicate(verb).
6. Wrap-up: Differences between 좋아요 and 좋아해요
Let’s take a glance at the differences using the chart!
Even though 좋아요 and 좋아해요 look very similar and meanings can be similar as well, there are still some differences. The most important thing you have to remember is simple "(verb) like" is 좋아하다 and 좋다 means "(adjective) good."
![[Reading Material] Korean Currency Won: Korean Coins and Bills](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b68df0_bec7c0b8f2b64d5e9e13d6cd0948d54e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_54,h_54,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/b68df0_bec7c0b8f2b64d5e9e13d6cd0948d54e~mv2.jpg)
