Like & dislike
The ways to say how you feel about a thing, from love and like through 'not my thing' to dislike and can't stand; all take the X ga ___ frame.
suki
polite suki desulike, be fond of
好き すき 好きです
Says you like something or someone (X ga suki); suki na X means 'the X I like, my favourite X'.
ame no hi, suki
I like rainy days.
雨の日、好き
ame no hi ga suki desu
I like rainy days.
雨の日が好きです
Ends in -i but is a na-adjective: suki ja nai, suki datta (never sukikunai). About a person, suki usually means romantic interest, and 'suki desu' to someone's face is a confession; for friendly liking say ii hito da ne or yasashii ne.
kirai
polite kirai desudislike, hate
嫌い きらい 嫌いです
Says you dislike something or someone (X ga kirai); it sounds strong about people, so polite speech often softens it to amari suki ja nai.
ame no hi, kirai
I hate rainy days.
雨の日、嫌い
ame no hi ga kirai desu
I hate rainy days.
雨の日が嫌いです
A na-adjective despite ending in -ai: kirai ja nai, kirai datta.
Learn alongside: suki, iya, daisuki, nigateLearn first: suki
iya
polite iya desudon't want, can't stand
嫌 いや 嫌です
A gut rejection of a situation or action, 'I don't want this / this is unpleasant' ('iya!', iya da, iku no iya da = I don't want to go); more immediate and emotional than kirai. iya na X = unpleasant X (iya na yokan = a bad feeling).
mata ame? iya da naa
Rain again? Ugh, I hate this.
また雨？嫌だなあ
mata ame desu ne. iya desu ne
Rain again. Isn't it awful?
また雨ですね。嫌ですね
Casually iya da is usually yada: mou yada (I've had enough), yada yo (no way). Polite iya desu in reply to a request is a blunt, childish-sounding refusal; refuse with chotto... or kekkou desu instead. About things like the weather, iya desu ne is fine small talk.
Learn alongside: suki, kirai, daisuki, nigateLearn first: kirai
daisuki
polite daisuki desulove, really like
大好き だいすき 大好きです
A stronger suki for food, hobbies and places, in the same X ga ___ frame; like suki it is a na-adjective (daisuki ja nai, daisuki datta). About family, kids or pets it is warm, but daisuki (desu) said to one person's face means 'I love you'.
ame no hi, daisuki
I love rainy days.
雨の日、大好き
ame no hi ga daisuki desu
I love rainy days.
雨の日が大好きです
dai- works on kirai too: daikirai = really hate.
nigate
polite nigate desunot my thing, bad at
苦手 にがて 苦手です
Says something isn't your thing: a food, a type of person, or a task you're weak at (X ga nigate). It is softer and safer than kirai, and it is the modest way to say you're bad at something (eigo ga nigate).
ame no hi, nigate
Rainy days aren't really my thing.
雨の日、苦手
ame no hi ga nigate desu
Rainy days aren't really my thing.
雨の日が苦手です
The opposite is tokui (my strong point). heta (bad at) is fine about yourself but blunt about other people, and nigate also hints you don't enjoy it. Don't mix it up with nigai (bitter): koohii, nigate = I'm not into coffee; koohii, nigai = the coffee's bitter.
Learn alongside: suki, kirai, iya, daisukiLearn first: kirai