好みます（このみます、konomimasu）
- to like

The Japanese verb 好みます 好みます means "to like," "to prefer," or "to favor." It expresses a preference or liking for something, whether it be a person, object, activity, or concept. It implies a stronger degree of liking than just "to be interested in."

⚫︎私は甘いものが好みます。 Translation: I like sweets. ⚫︎彼は映画を好みます。 Translation: He likes movies. ⚫︎夏を好みますか、冬を好みますか？ Translation: Do you like summer or winter?

⚫︎好みます 好みます is used to express personal preferences. ⚫︎It's often followed by a noun, a gerund, or a clause. ⚫︎It is a polite form, suitable for various situations, although the plain form 好きだ (sukida) is more commonly used in casual conversations among friends. ⚫︎When asking about someone's preferences, you would use it with the particle が (ga) or は (wa).

⚫︎The base form is 好む (konomu). ⚫︎The polite form, as addressed here, is 好みます 好みます. ⚫︎Written with the kanji 好 (kou - meaning "to like" or "to be fond of") and the hiragana みます (mimasu - a polite verb ending). ⚫︎The okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) is む (mu) in the plain form and みます (mimasu) in the polite form.

⚫︎好きです (sukidesu) - "I like," (polite form of 好きだ, which is the plain form of the adjective "likeable" or "liked.") ⚫︎気に入ります (ki ni irimasu) - "to like," "to be fond of" (more focused on something appealing to one's taste)

⚫︎嫌います (kiraimasu) - "to dislike," "to hate" ⚫︎嫌いだ (kirai da) - "to dislike," "to hate" (plain form)

私は犬を好みますが、猫も少し好きです。 ・Translation: I like dogs, but I also like cats a little. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates using 好みます 好みます to express a liking for dogs while acknowledging a less strong liking for cats.

彼女はクラシック音楽を好みます。 ・Translation: She likes classical music. ・Explanation: This sentence shows 好みます 好みます being used to describe someone's musical preference.

⚫︎The kanji 好 (kou) carries the meaning of "fondness," "liking," or "preference." ⚫︎The verb derives from the combination of the kanji with the verb ending.