좋다 vs 좋아하다: To Be Good vs To Like
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can say you like something with 좋아요 or 좋아해요, putting the right particle in front of each.
10-second answer
The short answer
좋다 (jota) is an ADJECTIVE: something IS good or pleasing to you — 커피가 좋아요 (keopiga joayo, coffee is good / I like coffee), with subject marker 이/가 (i/ga). 좋아하다 (joahada) is a VERB: you actively LIKE something — 커피를 좋아해요 (keopireul joahaeyo, I like coffee), with object marker 을/를 (eul/reul). Both translate as "like" in English, but the grammar underneath is completely different — and the particles prove it.
Quick check — did that land?
1. Which particle goes with 좋다?
Why does Korean have two words for like?
Side by Side
| Form | Part of speech | Structure | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 좋다 | Adjective | X이/가 좋아요 | X is good / pleasing (to me) |
| 좋아하다 | Verb | X을/를 좋아해요 | I (actively) like X |
See also: 이/가 — the subject marker
Quick Examples
날씨가 좋아요.
nalssiga joayo.
The weather is good.
Pure adjective use — the weather itself is good.
저는 커피가 좋아요.
jeoneun keopiga joayo.
I like coffee. (lit. coffee is pleasing to me)
좋다 + 이/가 — a softer, state-like way of liking.
저는 커피를 좋아해요.
jeoneun keopireul joahaeyo.
I like coffee.
좋아하다 + 을/를 — the direct, active statement of preference.
When Each One Sounds Natural
- Talking about your own in-the-moment feeling: 좋다 is common — 아, 좋다! (ah, this is nice!)
- Stating a standing preference: both work — 커피가 좋아요 and 커피를 좋아해요 are both natural
- Talking about a THIRD person's likes: 좋아하다 is strongly preferred — 동생이 커피를 좋아해요, because you can't directly feel someone else's inner state, the same logic behind -아/어하다 forms
This pair is the clearest window into a bigger Korean pattern: feeling ADJECTIVES (좋다, 싫다) describe your own inner state, while their -하다 VERB versions (좋아하다, 싫어하다) describe observable behavior — which is why the verb form is required when talking about other people.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — 커피를 좋아요
좋다 is an adjective and can't take an object — it needs 이/가: 커피가 좋아요.
Mistake #2 — 엄마가 커피가 좋아요 for "Mom likes coffee"
For someone else's preference, use the verb: 엄마는 커피를 좋아해요.
Mini Quiz
2. "My brother likes coffee" — which is natural?
3. What part of speech is 좋아하다?
Related Knowledge
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Korean Counters: 개, 명, 마리 and Friends
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