How to say "favorite" in Japanese

• 愛用あいようCommon
  no-adjective, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'favorite' as in a thing you use regularly and have grown attached to, such as a favorite pen or bag; it stresses habitual use rather than mere liking.
  彼かれはいまだに古ふるい車くるまを愛用あいようしている。↗

  He still cherishes his old car.
• 本命ほんめいCommon
  no-adjectiveThe 'favorite (to win)' sense: in racing and betting, the entry thought most likely to win; more broadly, the front-runner or the candidate you are really counting on.
  本命ほんめいと対抗馬たいこうばが競り合せりあったお陰かげで、ダークホースの彼かれが漁夫ぎょふの利りを得えたってわけだ。↗

  Since the favorite and his rival were running against each other a dark horse like him was able to pull out in front.
• 気に入りきにいりCommon
  no-adjectiveA thing or person that has won your favor: your favorite café or dish, or a person favored by someone in authority, as in a teacher's pet. The plain, unprefixed form of お気に入り.
• お気に入りおきにいりCommon
  no-adjectiveThe polite counterpart of 気に入り: a favorite thing or a favored person, as in a favorite café or the boss's pet. Use this form when speaking politely.
  私のお気に入きにいりの味あじはチョコレートです。↗

  My favorite flavor is chocolate.
• 人気者にんきものCommon
  nounReally means 'popular person': someone well liked by those around them, a crowd favorite. It is about people, not things, so it is seldom the word you want for a favorite object.
  ディズニーランドでは一時いちじになるといろいろな物語ものがたりの中なかの人気者にんきもの達たちが行列ぎょうれつをなして行進こうしんします。↗

  In Disneyland, popular characters in various stories march in procession at one o'clock.

Pick by sense: 愛用 is a thing you habitually use, 「気に入り」 and its politer form 「お気に入り」 are a favored thing or person, 本命 is the likely winner, and 人気者 is a popular person.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 愛用あいようfavorite
• 本命ほんめいfavorite (to win)
• 気に入りきにいりfavorite
• お気に入りおきにいりfavorite
• 人気者にんきものpopular person
• おなじみfamiliar
• フェイバリットfavorite
• お気におきにfavorite
• 売れっ子うれっこpopular figure
• 行きつけいきつけregular
• 贔屓ひいきfavourite
• 寵児ちょうじdarling