Japanese/Vocabulary/Phrases and Idioms

... が好きです
... ga suki desu

Expresses that a thing or person is liked. The subject, marked by が, is liked by the person marked with the topic marker は (if mentioned).

Examples

 * 彼はリンゴとバナナが好きです
 * kare wa ringo to banana ga suki desu.
 * He likes apples and bananas.


 * 英語を勉強するのがとても好きだよ！
 * eigo o benkyo suru no ga totemo suki da yo!
 * I really like studying English!

... なければならない
... nakereba naranai

The construction "(verb stem)なければならない", -nakereba naranai is used to express an obligation: something that has to be done.

(Literally, the -なければ -nakereba conjunction is the negative conditional form, "if not (this action)"; ならない naranai is "to not become", the plain negative of なる naru. The literal implication is that if the action is not done, nothing else can proceed.)

Examples

 * 今日は銀行にいかなければならない.
 * kyô wa ginko ni ikanakereba naranai.
 * I have to go to the bank today.


 * おじいさんがすぐに帰らなければ、私はマクドナルドに行きます.
 * Ojii-san ga suguni kaeranakereba watashi wa makudonarudo ni ikimasu.
 * If Grandpa doesn't return soon, I'm going to McDonald's.

Since ならない naranai is the plain-form negative of the verb なる naru (to become), in a more formal or polite situation one would use the polite negative form なりません narimasen instead.

下手の横好き（へたのよこずき）
heta no yoko-zuki

An idiom meaning that you are "unskilled but enthusiastic" or "crazy about it, but not very good at it". Used about a hobby or skilled activity.

Example

 * 山田： 田中さんは英語がお上手ですね.
 * Yamada：Tanaka-san wa eigo ga ojouzu desune.
 * Yamada: Mr Tanaka, you speak English well.


 * 田中： いいえ、下手の横好きなんですよ.
 * Tanaka: iie, heta no yoko-zuki nandesuyo.
 * Tanaka: Oh no, I like it, but I'm not very good at it