In this workshop you will speak Japanese out loud to talk about likes and dislikes. You will use the polite pattern with wa and ga, the strong word daisuki, the negative suki ja nai desu, and the reason marker kara. You will also hear a short exchange between two speakers and answer questions about what each person says. Each native example is a recording you can listen to and repeat. Speak slowly at first, then try to match the speed and rhythm of the recording. It is fine to pause the audio and repeat a line several times before moving on.
Saying What You Like
The basic polite pattern marks the speaker with wa and the liked thing with ga. The opinion word comes at the end. Listen to «私はコーヒーが好きです。» and repeat it. This line means 'I like coffee.' The word suki expresses a liking, not a romantic confession, so it is safe to use about food, drinks, animals, and hobbies. To make the feeling stronger, use daisuki. Listen to «私は犬が大好きです。» and repeat it. This line means 'I love dogs.' Daisuki is common in everyday speech and sounds warmer than suki. When you practice, keep your voice steady and put a small pause after wa. Try saying each line once while looking at the text, then once without looking.
Saying What You Do Not Like
To say you do not like something, change the ending to suki ja nai desu. Listen to «私は納豆が好きじゃないです。» and repeat it. This line means 'I don't like nattō.' The negative form is polite and clear. Keep the ga before the thing you dislike, and keep the negative ending at the end of the sentence. If you want to sound a little more casual, you can shorten ja nai desu to janai, but for this practice stay with the polite form. Practice the rhythm: suki ja nai desu has four beats after the thing you dislike. Say it slowly, then a little faster, but do not rush the final desu.
Giving a Reason with Kara
To give a simple reason, put kara after the reason and then give your opinion. Listen to «コーヒーは目が覚めるから好きです。» and repeat it. This line means 'I like coffee because it wakes me up.' The reason comes first, and the opinion comes at the end. This order is important in Japanese. You can use the same pattern with a negative opinion. Listen to «苦いから好きじゃないです。» and repeat it. This line means 'I don't like it because it's bitter.' Notice that the reason nigai kara comes before suki ja nai desu. When you speak, link the reason and the opinion smoothly, but keep a small pause after kara.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
私はコーヒーが好きです。
I like coffee.
Watashi wa kōhī ga suki desu.
私は犬が大好きです。
I love dogs.
Watashi wa inu ga daisuki desu.
私は納豆が好きじゃないです。
I don't like nattō.
Watashi wa nattō ga suki ja nai desu.
コーヒーは目が覚めるから好きです。
I like coffee because it wakes me up.
Kōhī wa me ga sameru kara suki desu.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
私はコーヒーが大好きです。
I love coffee.そうですか。私はコーヒーが好きじゃないです。
Is that so? I don't like coffee.どうしてですか。
Why?苦いから好きじゃないです。
I don't like it because it's bitter.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Likes and Dislikes
You will play both roles in a short exchange about coffee. First listen to «私はコーヒーが大好きです。» and «そうですか。私はコーヒーが好きじゃないです。». «私はコーヒーが大好きです。» means 'I love coffee.' «そうですか。私はコーヒーが好きじゃないです。» means 'Is that so? I don't like coffee.' Notice that the second speaker uses the negative form.
Your task: Play the role of speaker A. Say «私はコーヒーが大好きです。» out loud. Then play the role of speaker B and say «そうですか。私はコーヒーが好きじゃないです。» out loud. After that, switch roles and repeat. Do this two times so you practice both the positive and the negative pattern.
Reply Comprehension: Why Not?
Listen to the short exchange in «どうしてですか。» and «苦いから好きじゃないです。». «どうしてですか。» means 'Why?' and «苦いから好きじゃないです。» means 'I don't like it because it's bitter.' The question asks for a reason, and the answer gives the reason first with kara.
Your task: Listen to «どうしてですか。» and answer out loud with «苦いから好きじゃないです。». Then listen again and choose the correct meaning of «苦いから好きじゃないです。»: (a) I like it because it is sweet, or (b) I don't like it because it is bitter. Say your choice out loud, then say the full line «苦いから好きじゃないです。».
Recall with Correct Roles
In this task you will remember who said what. Listen to «私はコーヒーが大好きです。», «そうですか。私はコーヒーが好きじゃないです。», «どうしてですか。», and «苦いから好きじゃないです。» again. Speaker A says «私はコーヒーが大好きです。» and «どうしてですか。». Speaker B says «そうですか。私はコーヒーが好きじゃないです。» and «苦いから好きじゃないです。».
Your task: Cover the text and rehearse the four lines in dialogue order: A states a positive opinion, B gives a negative opinion, A asks why, and B gives the reason. Alternate the two voices. Then uncover the model to check your recall.
Common questions
What is the difference between suki and daisuki?
Suki means 'like' and daisuki means 'love' or 'really like.' You can hear the difference in «私はコーヒーが好きです。» and «私は犬が大好きです。». «私はコーヒーが好きです。» means 'I like coffee,' and «私は犬が大好きです。» means 'I love dogs.' Both are polite and common. Use daisuki when you want to show a stronger feeling.
Where does kara go in a sentence?
Kara comes after the reason, and the opinion comes at the end. In «コーヒーは目が覚めるから好きです。», the reason is me ga sameru kara, which means 'because it wakes me up,' and the opinion is suki desu, which means 'I like it.' In «苦いから好きじゃないです。», the reason is nigai kara, which means 'because it is bitter,' and the opinion is suki ja nai desu, which means 'I don't like it.'
Sources and further reading
- japanese: express likes dislikesChecked September 2026
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