好む|このむkonomu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto like; to prefer
    Quite a few Americans like sushi.
Conjugation
Dictionary form好む(このむ)
Polite (masu)好みます(このみます)
Negative (nai)好まない(このまない)
polite (masen)好みません(このみません)
classical zu / nu好まず・好まぬ(このまず・このまぬ)
Past (ta)好んだ(このんだ)
polite (mashita)好みました(このみました)
Past negative (nakatta)好まなかった(このまなかった)
polite (masen deshita)好みませんでした(このみませんでした)
Te form好んで(このんで)
Potential好める(このめる)
Passive好まれる(このまれる)
Causative好ませる(このませる)
Causative passive好ませられる・好まされる(このませられる・このまされる)
Conditional (ba)好めば(このめば)
tara好んだら(このんだら)
Volitional好もう(このもう)
polite (mashou)好みましょう(このみましょう)
Imperative好め(このめ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym愛好あいこうWrittenTo be devoted to a hobby or pursuit, as in 「音楽を愛好する」; belongs to written/formal prose.
  • Synonym愛するあいするNeutralTo love, as in 「家族を愛する」; the feeling is deeper than 「好む」.
  • Synonym好くすくNeutralMeans to like, but is rarely used on its own; mostly seen in the passive 「人に好かれる」. 「好む」 leans more written and implies preferring.
  • Synonym好き好むすきこのむNeutralOften used in the negative, as in 「好き好んで~するわけではない」, to say one is not doing something by choice.
  • SynonymたしなむWrittenTo enjoy something in moderation, such as sake or the tea ceremony, as in 「酒を嗜む」; carries a refined, cultivated air; written/formal prose.
  • Synonymお気に召すおきにめすFormalHonorific for when the other person takes a liking to something, as in 「お気に召しましたか」; formal.
  • Related愛すあいすWrittenThe godan form of 「愛する」; found mainly in literary language and song lyrics; written/formal prose.
  • Related惚れ込むほれこむNeutralTo be deeply captivated or charmed, as in 「人柄に惚れ込む」; the attraction is far stronger than 「好む」.
  • Antonym嫌うきらうNeutralTo dislike or loathe; the direct opposite of 「好む」.
  • Antonym憎むにくむNeutralTo hate or detest; a stronger emotion than 「嫌う」, and the opposite of 「好む」.

Use 「好む」 for preferring or liking a type of thing; in speech, 「好き」 is the usual choice. Use 「愛好」 for hobbies and interests, 「嗜む」 for moderate enjoyment, 「愛する」 for deep love, and 「お気に召す」 as the honorific for someone else's liking.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 多おおく物事ものごとに対たいし、好すきだと感かんじて進すすんでそれを求もとめる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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