"8" — "좋아요" — Meaning & Examples | कोरियाई Phrases

A1 Expression औपचारिक

It's good / I like it

Phrase in 30 Seconds

좋아요 is your go-to phrase for saying 'It's good,' 'I like it,' or 'Okay' in polite Korean.

Means: 'It is good' or 'I like it' depending on the context.
Used in: Accepting invitations, praising food, or clicking 'Like' on social media.
Don't confuse: Don't use object markers (을/를) with this; use subject markers (이/가) instead.

Something Good + Polite Ending (요) = A Happy Conversation

Explanation at your level:

At this level, '좋아요' is simply 'It is good' or 'I like it.' You use it to talk about things you enjoy, like food or music. It is a polite way to speak to everyone. Just remember: [Thing] + 이/가 + 좋아요. It's one of the first 50 words you should learn because it helps you be friendly.

In A2, you learn that '좋아요' is a descriptive verb (adjective). You start to distinguish it from '좋아해요' (the active verb). You can use '좋아요' to agree to plans, like '내일 좋아요' (Tomorrow is good). You also learn the past tense '좋았어요' to describe a trip or a movie you saw yesterday.

Intermediate learners use '좋아요' to manage social interactions. You understand that it can mean 'Okay' in a negotiation. You start using variations like '좋네요' to show you are impressed. You also understand the difference between '좋다' (to be good) and '나쁘다' (to be bad) in more complex sentences involving conditions, like '날씨가 좋으면 갈게요' (If the weather is good, I'll go).

At this stage, you grasp the pragmatic nuances. You know when '좋아요' is being used as a polite refusal or a hesitant agreement. You can use it in compound sentences and understand its role in maintaining 'Nunchi.' You also recognize it in idiomatic expressions like '기분이 좋다' (to feel happy) vs '사이좋다' (to be on good terms).

Advanced learners analyze '좋아요' through the lens of Korean honorifics and speech levels. You understand the subtle shift in power dynamics when someone switches from '좋습니다' to '좋아요.' You can discuss the etymological roots from Middle Korean and how the semantics of 'goodness' have shifted from objective quality to subjective preference over centuries.

At mastery, you understand the cognitive linguistics behind '좋다.' You can interpret its use in classical literature versus modern digital discourse. You understand the phonological constraints of the root '좋-' and how it interacts with various suffixes to create complex emotional states. You use it with native-level intuition, knowing exactly when a '좋아요' carries a hidden 'no' or a profound 'yes.'

मतलब

Expresses approval or positive feeling towards something.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

The 'Like' button on Korean Facebook and Instagram is labeled '좋아요'. This has turned the word into a noun in digital slang, where people 'collect 좋아요' (likes). In meetings, saying '좋아요' can sometimes be a way to avoid saying 'no' directly. It's important to listen for the 'but' (하지만/그런데) that might follow. When eating with elders, wait for them to say the food is '좋다' or '맛있다' before you use '좋아요' enthusiastically. It shows respect for their palate. The phrase '사이좋게 지내다' (to get along well) uses the root of '좋다'. It reflects the high cultural value placed on harmonious relationships.

🎯

The 'Like' Button Rule

Whenever you are on social media, think of '좋아요' as the physical action of clicking the heart or thumbs up.

⚠️

Object Marker Trap

Never use 을/를 with 좋아요. It's the #1 mistake for beginners!

मतलब

Expresses approval or positive feeling towards something.

🎯

The 'Like' Button Rule

Whenever you are on social media, think of '좋아요' as the physical action of clicking the heart or thumbs up.

⚠️

Object Marker Trap

Never use 을/를 with 좋아요. It's the #1 mistake for beginners!

💬

Softening Agreement

Use '좋아요' instead of '네' to sound more friendly and enthusiastic when someone makes a suggestion.

💡

Past Tense

If you liked something in the past, always use '좋았어요.'

खुद को परखो

Fill in the correct subject marker and the phrase '좋아요'.

저는 한국 노래( ) ( ). (I like Korean songs.)

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 가, 좋아요

Since '좋아요' is an adjective, it needs the subject marker '가'.

Match the response '좋아요' to the correct situation.

Friend: '우리 오늘 피자 먹을까요?' (Shall we eat pizza today?)

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Agreeing to the suggestion

In this context, '좋아요' means 'Okay' or 'Sounds good.'

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Select the correct sentence:

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 날씨가 좋아요.

Weather (날씨) is the subject that 'is good' (좋아요).

Complete the dialogue with the most natural form.

A: 어제 파티 어땠어요? B: 정말 ( ).

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 좋았어요

The question is about the past (어땠어요?), so the answer must be in the past tense (좋았어요).

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

좋아요 vs 좋아해요

좋아요 (Adjective)

가/이 좋아요 Subject is good

좋아해요 (Verb)

를/을 좋아해요 I like the object

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

Not really. It means 'I like you' or 'You are a good person.' For romantic love, use '사랑해요.'

'좋아' is for friends (informal), and '좋아요' is for people you don't know well or elders (polite).

It's a cute way of spelling '좋아요' used in texting and social media to sound softer or more 'aegyo.'

Rarely. In Korean, '괜찮아요' is the standard for 'No thank you.' '좋아요' almost always means 'Yes' or 'Good.'

Yes! While '맛있어요' (delicious) is more specific, '좋아요' is a very common way to say the food is good.

You can say '안 좋아요' (It's not good) or '싫어요' (I dislike it/I don't want to).

It is a descriptive verb, which functions like an adjective in English.

Yes, but '좋습니다' is safer and more professional in a formal workplace.

It means 'I am in a good mood' or 'I feel happy.'

The root '좋다' is native Korean, but it corresponds to the Hanja {好|호}.

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🍲

At a Restaurant

Waiter: 맛이 어때요? (How is the taste?)

You: 정말 좋아요! (It's really good!)

neutral

📅

Making Plans

Friend: 내일 2시에 볼까요? (Shall we meet tomorrow at 2?)

You: 네, 좋아요. (Yes, sounds good.)

neutral

🛍️

Shopping

Clerk: 이 색깔은 어때요? (How about this color?)

You: 그게 더 좋아요. (I like that one better.)

neutral

📱

Social Media

You (commenting): 사진이 정말 좋아요! (The photo is really good!)

Influencer: 감사합니다! (Thank you!)

informal

💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: 우리 회사의 비전에 대해 어떻게 생각합니까? (What do you think of our company's vision?)

You: 매우 좋다고 생각합니다. (I think it is very good.)

formal

☕

First Date

Date: 어떤 음악을 좋아해요? (What kind of music do you like?)

You: 저는 재즈가 좋아요. (I like jazz.)

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Jo' as 'Joy'. When you feel Joy, you say 'Jo-ayo!'

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'thumbs up' button (like on Facebook) with the word '좋아요' written on it in glowing neon letters.

Rhyme

Jo-ayo, let's go! (좋아요, 가요!)

Story

You are at a Korean market. You see a beautiful hat. You put it on, look in the mirror, and the shopkeeper smiles and says '좋아요!' You feel happy and buy it.

Word Web

좋다 (to be good)좋아하다 (to like)좋은 (good - adjective)좋아 (informal)좋습니다 (formal)좋아지다 (to get better)최고 (the best)괜찮아요 (it's okay)

चैलेंज

Go to a Korean YouTube video and find the 'Like' button. Say '좋아요' out loud before you click it.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Me gusta / Está bien

Spanish uses a reflexive-like structure (me gusta), while Korean uses a simple descriptive adjective.

French partial

C'est bon / J'aime

French separates taste (bon) from preference (aimer), while Korean merges them in '좋아요'.

German partial

Es ist gut / Ich mag

German uses a direct verb for liking, whereas Korean uses an adjective describing the object.

Japanese high

いいです (Ii desu)

The grammar and social function are nearly 1:1, making it very easy for Japanese speakers.

Arabic moderate

جيد (Jayyid) / طيب (Tayyib)

Arabic uses 'Tayyib' more for agreement and 'uhibbu' for preference, whereas '좋아요' does both.

Chinese high

好 (Hǎo)

Chinese 'Hǎo' is even more versatile, acting as a prefix for many other adjectives.

Portuguese partial

É bom / Gosto

Portuguese requires a preposition after the verb 'gostar' (gosto de...), while Korean uses a subject marker.

English moderate

I like it / It's good / Okay

English 'like' is a verb; Korean '좋아요' is an adjective.

Easily Confused

좋아요 बनाम 좋아해요 vs 좋아요

Learners use them interchangeably, but they have different grammar.

Use '좋아요' with '이/가' (adjective). Use '좋아해요' with '을/를' (verb).

좋아요 बनाम 좋아요 vs 괜찮아요

Both can mean 'Okay.'

'좋아요' is enthusiastic agreement. '괜찮아요' is neutral or a polite 'No.'

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)