“〜ga suki / kirai / jouzu / nigate”: Likes & Abilities [JLPT N5]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

The basic pattern for expressing preferences and abilities.

“〜ga suki / kirai / jouzu / nigate”: Likes & Abilities

When expressing preferences and abilities, the object uses 「が」, not 「を」: 好き (like), 嫌い (dislike), 得意 (good at), 苦手 (bad at/not fond of). E.g. 「猫が好き」 (like cats), 「英語が得意」 (good at English), 「数学が苦手」 (bad at math). ⚠️ Key: the object of a preference/ability always uses が, not を (✗ 猫を好き→猫が好き)! Because 好き/得意 etc. are 「な-adjectives,」 not verbs. ⚠️ If the object is an ‘action,' nominalize the verb with 「の」 first (泳ぐのが好き = like swimming). ⚠️ Connection: noun ＋ が ＋ 好き/嫌い/得意/苦手 (all な-adjectives).

🧠 Core nuance: the object of a preference/ability uses が (because they're adjectives)

The core is 好き, 嫌い, 得意, 苦手 are な-adjectives (not verbs), and their object uses 「が」: in English ‘like cats' looks like ‘like' (verb) ＋ ‘cats' (object), so を is easily misused; but Japanese 「好き」 is a な-adjective (= ‘likeable'), so the object uses 「が」 (猫が好き = cats (the object) are likeable). Likewise: 好き (like), 嫌い (dislike), 得意 (good at), 苦手 (bad at/not fond of), 上手 (skilled), 下手 (poor) — all take が for the object. E.g.: 音楽が好き = like music, 野菜が嫌い = dislike vegetables, 料理が得意 = good at cooking, 運動が苦手 = bad at sports. ⚠️ Core rule: the object of a preference/ability always uses が, not を (✗ 猫を好き, ✗ 英語を得意→猫が好き, 英語が得意)! ⚠️ If the object of a preference is an ‘action,' the verb can't take が directly — nominalize it with 「の」 first (泳ぐのが好き = like swimming, 料理を作るのが得意 = good at cooking). ⚠️ Note: 好き/嫌い etc. are な-adjectives, conjugating like nouns (好きだ/好きじゃない/好きだった); degree uses 大好き (love), 大嫌い (hate). The most basic N5 preference pattern.

📌 Connection Rules

💬 Example Sentences

• 私はねこが好きです。(I like cats.) — 好き
• 私は英語が得意です。(I'm good at English.) — 得意
• 彼は数学が苦手だ。(He's bad at math.) — 苦手
• 私は泳ぐのが好きです。(I like swimming.) — verb nominalized
• 弟は野菜が大嫌いだ。(My little brother hates vegetables.) — 大嫌い (degree)

🔄 Compare: が好き vs を (verb) vs のが好き vs 大好き

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. The object uses が not を: ✗ 猫を好き→猫が好き; ✗ 英語を得意→英語が得意 (preferences/abilities are な-adjectives).
2. The verb must be nominalized: ✗ 泳ぐが好き→泳ぐのが好き (verb dict. form ＋ の).
3. They're な-adjectives: 好き/嫌い conjugate like nouns (好きだ/好きじゃない/好きだった), ✗ 好きくない.
4. 苦手 vs 嫌い: 苦手 = bad at/not good (ability); 嫌い = dislike (emotion).

💡 Nuance & When to Use

The object of a preference/ability uses が: 好き (like), 嫌い (dislike), 得意 (good at), 苦手 (bad at) — 猫が好き, 英語が得意, 数学が苦手. ⚠️ Key: the object uses が not を (they're な-adjectives); if the object is an action, nominalize the verb with の (泳ぐのが好き). Degree uses 大好き/大嫌い. The most basic N5 preference pattern — memorize it.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• N5 core: the object of 好き/嫌い/得意/苦手 uses が (猫が好き, 英語が得意); they're な-adjectives.
• Important rule: the object uses が not を (✗ 猫を好き); nominalize a verb with の (泳ぐのが好き).
• Distinction: 苦手 (bad at, ability) vs 嫌い (dislike, emotion); degree uses 大好き/大嫌い.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「私は英語___得意です。」(I'm good at English) Which particle is correct?

(A) を　(B) は　(C) が　(D) に

Q2. 「私はねこ___好きです。」(I like cats) Which particle is correct?

(A) を　(B) は　(C) が　(D) で

Q3. Which sentence is correct?

(A) 猫を好きです。

(B) 猫が好きです。

(C) 猫に好きです。

(D) 猫で好きです。

Q4. 「私は泳ぐ___好きです。」(I like swimming — a verb) Which is correct?

(A) が　(B) のが　(C) を　(D) こと

Q5. 「彼は数学___苦手だ。」(he's bad at math) Which particle is correct?

(A) を　(B) に　(C) が　(D) で

Answer Key

1. (C) が ── the object of 好き/嫌い/得意/苦手 uses が: 英語が得意 (✗ 英語を得意).

2. (C) が ── a preference object uses が: ねこが好き (✗ ねこを好き).

3. (B) 猫が好きです ── a preference object uses が, not を/に/で.

4. (B) のが ── nominalize the verb with の first, then が: 泳ぐのが好き (✗ 泳ぐが好き).

5. (C) が ── the object of 苦手 (bad at) also uses が: 数学が苦手 (✗ 数学を苦手).