大好き

• Reading: だいすき
• Romaji: daisuki
• Kanji breakdown: 大 (big/great) + 好 (fond/like) → big liking, strong love or affection
• Pronunciation: /da.i.su.ki/

Meaning

I love you/this — a stronger form of 好き expressing deep affection or enthusiasm.

The intensified form of 好き, 大好き adds 大 (big/great) to express strong love or enthusiasm. Used for people, foods, hobbies, media, and anything you feel passionate about. While it can be romantic ('I love you'), it is equally used for non-romantic affection among friends and for things. Japanese speakers often tell friends 大好き without romantic implication.

Examples

1. このバンド大好きだからライブ全部行く。 I love this band so much I go to all their concerts.
2. ばあちゃんの料理が世界で一番大好き。 Grandma's cooking is my absolute favorite in the whole world.
3. 友達に大好きって伝えるの大事だよね。 It's important to tell your friends you love them, right?

Usage Guide

Context: friends, family, social media, romantic relationships

Tone: affectionate, enthusiastic

Do Say

• みんな大好き！いつもありがとう。 (I love you all! Thanks for everything.)
• この味大好きなんだよね。 (I really love this flavour.)

Don't Say

• ビジネスの場で「大好きです」は不適切 (Saying 'daisuki desu' in a business setting is inappropriate)

Common Mistakes

• Thinking 大好き is always a romantic confession — among friends, especially girls, it is a common platonic expression

Origin & History

From 大 (big/great) + 好き (like/love). A straightforward intensification that has been part of Japanese since the language adopted this compounding pattern. As a casual expression of love and enthusiasm, it is one of the earliest words Japanese learners encounter.

Cultural Context

Era: Fundamental Japanese expression

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Platonic usage among friends is very common, especially among young women.