SEMESTER 2
TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
LESSON 52
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Ask about and express likes and dislikes
Write the katakana
ア
イ
ウ
エ
オ
a
i
u
e
o
and the long vowels
アー イー ウー エー オー
aa
ii
uu
ee
oo
VOCABULARY
Words
suki
daisuki
kirai
like, is pleasing
like very much, is very pleasing
dislike, hate, is displeasing
Phrases and expressions
Nani-ga suki desu-ka?
Bijutsu-ga suki desu.
Kore-ga suki desu-ka?
Iie, sore-wa suki ja nai desu.*
Anmari suki ja nai desu.
What do you like?
I like art.
Do you like this?
No, I don’t like that.
I don’t like it very much; I really don’t like it.
*Refer to Lesson 55, p. 106 for the usage of -wa and -ga particles.
-GA OR –WA?
With suki desu, use the particle
-GA
in the questions and affirmative statements
-WA
in the negative statements
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SEMESTER 2
TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
YOMIMASHOO!
suki
daisuki
kirai
すき
Nani-ga suki desu-ka?
Bijutsu-ga suki desu.
Kore-ga suki desu-ka?
Iie, sore-wa suki ja nai desu.*
Anmari suki ja nai desu.
なにが すき ですか。
びじゅつが すき です。
これが すき ですか。
いいえ、それは すき じゃ
あんまり すき じゃ ない
だいすき
きらい
ない です。
です。
KEY GRAMMAR POINTS
1. X-ga suki desu.
This expression is usually translated as like(s). The X represents the item which is liked. Study
these examples:
Nani-ga suki desu-ka?
What do you like?
Doitsugo-ga suki desu.
I like German.
Aisukuriimu-ga suki desu.
I like ice cream.
Kore-ga suki desu.
I like this.
Dare-ga suki desu-ka?
Who(m) do you like?
Sensei-ga suki desu.
I like (my) teacher.
Tomodachi-ga suki desu.
I like (my) friend.
NOTE
Use the particle –ga with suki
Why?
Notice that in English we say that someone likes something:
I
like
music.
SUBJECT
VERB
DIRECT OBJECT
In Japanese, however, we say something is pleasing. The word
suki is actually an adjective and the pleasing item is the subject:
Watashi-wa ongaku-ga
suki desu.
(as for me)
TOPIC
(music)
(pleasing) (is)
SUBJECT ADJECTIVE VERB
The pleasing item is NOT a direct object in Japanese so you do NOT use the particle -o.
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SEMESTER 2
TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
2. X-ga daisuki desu.
Daisuki means is very pleasing and is often translated in English as like(s) very much. Daisuki
and suki are both adjectives in Japanese and are used in the same way.
3. X-ga kirai desu.
Kirai means displeasing and in English is often expressed as dislike(s) or hate(s). This is a rather
strong expression which you may wish to avoid by substituting a less harsh expression such as
X-wa suki ja nai desu or X-wa anmari suki ja nai desu.
4. X-wa anmari suki ja nai desu.
This expression means X is not very pleasing and is often translated as do(es)n’t really like X.
5. Person-wa X-ga suki/kirai desu.
If you want to tell not only which thing is pleasing or displeasing but also the person to whom it
is that way, include the person followed by the topic particle -wa.
Watashi-wa kono keeki-ga suki desu.
Kenji-kun-wa Naomi-san-ga kirai desu.
Boku-wa orenji juusu-ga kirai desu.
Nishioka-san-wa ongaku-ga daisuki desu.
I like this cake.
Kenji hates Naomi,
I dislike orange juice.
Mr. Nishioka really likes music.
NOTE
The words suki, daisuki, and kirai are all adjectives which are similar to
hoshii in that they are usually translated as verbs in English. If you
think of these as meaning is pleasing, is very pleasing, and is
displeasing, respectively, you can avoid making grammatical mistakes.
CULTURAL NOTES
Japanese adults generally do not express their dislikes directly to others so expressions such as
X-ga kirai desu and X-ga suki ja nai desu are usually used only in the company of friends or
family members.
WRITING JAPANESE
In this lesson you will begin writing katakana. Each katakana syllable, like its hiragana
counterpart, must be written with a certain stroke order. In the Writing Practice section make
sure you practice the correct stroke order from the very beginning so that it becomes natural and
automatic for you.
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SEMESTER 2
TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES
PART 1
Chokoreeto keeki-ga suki desu-ka?
With a kurasumeeto, practice asking and answering しつもん about likes and dislikes. Choose
things from the following categories:
たべもの
のみもの
かもく
おんがく
Study these sample exchanges. Notice that each partner tells the other how much he/she likes or
dislikes the selected item. A partner may change the category after one exchange and may return
to an “old” category at any time.
A: Chokoreeto keeki-ga suki desu-ka?
B: Suki desu. A-san-wa?
A: Watashi-mo chokoreeto keeki-ga suki desu.
B: Suugaku-ga suki desu-ka?
A: Anmari suki ja nai desu. B-san-wa?
B: Watashi-wa suugaku-ga daisuki desu.
EXPRESSING DEGREES OF LIKING
X-ga daisuki desu.
X-ga suki desu.
X-ga maamaa suki desu.
X-wa anmanri suki ja nai desu.
X-wa suki ja nai desu
like(s) X very much
like(s) X
like(s) X somewhat
doesn’t/don’t like X very much
doesn’t/don’t like X
Vocabulary review
With a partner, review the vocabulary from Lessons 49, 50, and 51. Follow the normal
procedure.
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TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
PART 2
Intabyuu
In this whole-class activity, circulate among your kurasumeeto, asking the questions below and
recording the names of students who respond in the affirmative (Hai, suki/daisuki desu.) If a
kurasumeeto responds with (Anmari) suki ja nai desu, do not record the person’s name, but say
Doomo, sumimasen and find another person to interview. Continue until each student has
completed the intabyuu sheet. Share the responses you collected. Look at the sample intabyuu.
A: Sumimasen! Chotto, intabyuu, ii desu-ka?
B: Ee? Aa…, doozo.
A: Chokoreeto keeki-ga suki desu-ka?
B:
A:
B:
A:
Hai, (dai)suki desu.
O-namae-wa?
B desu.
Doomo, arigatoo gozaimasu.
(records B’s name)
B: (Anmari) suki ja nai desu kedo…
A: Aa, soo desu-ka. Sumimasen.
しつもん
なまえ
1. Tomato juusu-ga suki desu-ka?
2. Rokku-ga suki desu-ka?
3. Tenisu-ga suki desu-ka?
4. Nihongo-no benkyoo-ga suki desu-ka?
5. Gakkoo-ga suki desu-ka?
6. Tanjoobi-no paatii-ga suki desu-ka?
7. Terebi-ga suki desu-ka?
8. Hoorensoo*-ga suki desu-ka?
* spinach!
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TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
ASSIGNMENTS
PART 1
1. Read all of the notes for Lesson 52.
2. Learn the new vocabulary.
3. Complete the Writing Practice section, Part
.
PART 2
1. Complete the remainder of the Writing Practice section.
2. Can you read them?
The following sentences are written in hiragana with no spaces between the words. Write the
sentences in roomaji, leaving space between the words. Write the particles affixed to the
preceding words. Then write the sentences in English. Compare your answers with those of a
kurasumeeto.
1. あんまりすきじゃないです。
2. すうがくとびじゅつとれきしがだいすきです。
3. なにがすきですか。
4. ふるいにほんのえいがはあんまりすきじゃないです。
3. Preview the vocabulary and notes for Lesson 53.
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TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
EXTRA
Nihongo-de kakimashoo!
Write each of the following sentences in roomaji. After you finish all of the sentences, check
your work by finding identical sentences in this lesson. Then write the sentences in ひらがな.
Check your work with a kurasumeeto.
1. Mr. Nishioka really likes music.
2. What do you like?
3. I don’t like it very much.
4. Who(m) do you like?
5. I like this cake.
[Write the Japanese word for cake in roomaji.]
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TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
WRITING PRACTICE
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TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
Read and copy the katakana
Be sure to use the correct stroke order. Read each katakana before and after writing it.
1. ウ
3. ア
5. エ
7. アー
2. オ
4. イ
6. ウー
8. オー
Identify the katakana
Foreign place names are written in katakana. In the hyphenated state names below, circle the
syllables for which you know the katakana and write the correct katakana below.
1. A - ra - su - ka
4. A - i - o - wa
7. Aa - ka - n - soo
2. I - ri - no - i
5. Ha - wa - i
8. O - ku - ra - ho - ma
3. O - ha - i - o
6. A - i - da - ho
9. A - ra - ba - ma
Dekimasu-ka?
Below are the names of countries written in katakana with their roomaji equivalents. Can you
complete the names by filling in the missing katakana (which you know? Compare your answers
with those of a kurasumeeto.
1. ド＿＿ツ
7. ＿＿タリ＿＿ (Itaria)
(Doitsu)
2. ＿＿ガンダ (Uganda)
8. ＿＿チ＿＿ ピア
3. スペ＿＿ン (Supein)
9. ＿＿ランダ (Oranda)
(Echiopia)
[Holland]
4. ＿＿ルバニ＿＿ (Arubania)
10. ＿＿ンドネシ＿＿ (Indoneshia)
5. ＿＿クラ＿＿ ア
11. サ＿＿ジ＿＿ ラビ＿＿(Sauji-arabia)
(Ukuraina)
6. ＿＿ストニ＿＿ (Esutonia)
12. ＿＿＿ストリ＿＿ (Oosutoria) [Austria]
More writing practice
If you need additional practice, trace the sample katakana on the previous page and then use
blank writing practice sheets.
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TOPIC: Asking about and expressing likes and dislikes
NOTES
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