Meaning
The kanji 好 (kō, konomu, suki) encompasses core meanings such as "like," "good," "pleasing," "fond," and "to prefer." It is a fundamental character used to express positive feelings and preferences in Japanese.
Its origin is a fascinating ideogram, representing an idea or concept by combining simpler components. 好 is formed by two radicals: 女 (おんな - onna) on the left, meaning "woman," and 子 (こ - ko) on the right, meaning "child." In ancient Chinese culture, the sight of a woman with a child was universally seen as auspicious, harmonious, and inherently "good" or "pleasing." This evocative combination effectively conveys the sense of something being intrinsically "good," "likable," or "desirable," encapsulating affection and positive sentiment.
This origin story helps us understand why 好 carries such strong connotations of affection, preference, and general positivity. When you encounter 好, you can associate it with the profound and universally cherished bond between a mother and child, symbolizing something inherently positive and agreeable.
With only 6 strokes, 好 is a relatively simple character to write. It's taught in Japanese elementary school as part of the Grade 4 curriculum, reflecting its importance and frequent use in daily Japanese.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi readings originate from the character's ancient Chinese pronunciation. They are typically used when 好 appears as part of a compound word, often alongside other kanji. For 好, the primary On'yomi is コウ (KŌ).
コウ (KŌ): This reading is found in many abstract or formal compound words that convey ideas of "goodness," "favor," or "liking," often in a more objective or formal context than its Kun'yomi counterparts.
好意 (kōi) — goodwill, kindness, favor. This word expresses positive feelings or intentions towards someone.
好評 (kōhyō) — good reputation, popular, well-received. Used to describe something that has been well-received or has a good reputation among many people.
好調 (kōchō) — favorable condition, doing well, in good shape. Often describes business performance, health, or other situations that are progressing favorably.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations tied to the kanji's meaning. They are often used when 好 stands alone as a verb or adjective, or combined with hiragana endings (okurigana) to form complete words.
この・む (konomu): This is the transitive verb meaning "to like," "to prefer," or "to be fond of." It explicitly indicates a preference for something and typically takes a direct object.
好む (konomu) — to like, to prefer. This is the dictionary form of the verb.
好ましい (konomashii) — desirable, pleasant, favorable. This is an adjective derived from the verb, describing something that is good or desirable.
す・き (suki): This is a widely used adjective (often functioning like a noun with だ or です) meaning "liked," "favorite," or "to like." It strongly expresses personal preference and is one of the most common ways to express liking something in daily conversation.
好き (suki) — liked, favorite, fond of. This is frequently used with です to mean "I like..." or "...is my favorite."
大好き (daisuki) — love (literally "big like"), very fond of. Used for intense liking or love.
Common Words & Compounds
To master its usage, it's essential to understand how 好 combines with other kanji or stands alone. Here are some common words and compounds, grouped by theme, that demonstrate this kanji's versatility:
Expressing Liking & Preference
- 好き (suki) — liked, favorite, fond of. This is a very fundamental word used daily.
- 大好き (daisuki) — love (literally "big like"), very fond of. Used to express a strong degree of liking, often translated as "love."
- 好み (konomi) — preference, taste. Often describes one's personal likes or style, for example, 彼の好み (kare no konomi), meaning 'his preference' or 'his taste.'
- 好む (konomu) — to like, to prefer, to be fond of. The verb form for expressing preference.
- 好物 (kōbutsu) — favorite food or thing. Literally "liked thing," it specifically refers to one's favorite food or item.
Describing Positive Qualities & Conditions
- 好意 (kōi) — goodwill, kindness, favor. Expresses positive feelings or intentions towards someone, such as goodwill or favor.
- 好評 (kōhyō) — good reputation, popular, well-received. Describes something that is generally well-received and has a positive public image.
- 好調 (kōchō) — favorable condition, good condition, doing well. Describes a positive state of affairs, often in business, health, or sports.
- 好感 (kōkan) — good impression, favorable impression. Refers to the positive feeling one gets about someone or something.
- 好青年 (kōseinen) — a fine young man, an upstanding youth. A compound describing a young person with good qualities.
Abstract Concepts with 好
- 好奇心 (kōkishin) — curiosity (literally "liking to investigate heart"). The desire to know or learn something; curiosity.
- 好戦的 (kōsenteki) — warlike, aggressive (literally "liking war"). This shows that while 好 implies 'liking,' the compound's context determines the overall connotation, which can sometimes be negative.
Example Sentences
私は甘いものが好きです。
Watashi wa amai mono ga suki desu.
I like sweet things.
彼はスポーツを好む傾向があります。
Kare wa supōtsu wo konomu keikō ga arimasu.
He has a tendency to like sports.
その新しい映画はとても好評です。
Sono atarashii eiga wa totemo kōhyō desu.
That new movie is very popular.
彼の会社は今、業績が好調です。
Kare no kaisha wa ima, gyōseki ga kōchō desu.
His company's performance is currently doing well.
私の好物は寿司です。
Watashi no kōbutsu wa sushi desu.
My favorite food is sushi.
彼女は好意的な態度で私を迎えてくれました。
Kanojo wa kōiteki na taido de watashi wo mukaete kuremashita.
She welcomed me with a friendly attitude.
私は旅行が大好きなので、よく出かけます。
Watashi wa ryokō ga daisuki nanode, yoku dekakemasu.
I love traveling, so I often go out.
読書は彼の好みです。
Dokushō wa kare no konomi desu.
Reading is his preference.
子供たちは好奇心が旺盛です。
Kodomotachi wa kōkishin ga ōsei desu.
Children are full of curiosity.
Related Kanji
- 弟 — Younger Brother, Junior (Kanji N4)
- 以 — By Means Of, With, From (Kanji N4)
- 黒 — Black, Dark (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
- 短 — Short, brief, defect (Kanji N4)
- 田 — Rice Field (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 好, let's break it down into its two component radicals: 女 (woman) on the left and 子 (child) on the right. Visualize a heartwarming scene: a woman affectionately holding or gazing at her child. This tender image immediately evokes feelings of love, happiness, and contentment. This peaceful and affectionate bond perfectly symbolizes what is "good," "pleasing," or "likable." When you encounter 好, simply recall this powerful image of a "woman and child" and connect it directly to the meaning of "like" or "good." This visual mnemonic makes the abstract concept concrete and memorable.