2/2 Difference between 좋다 & 좋아하다.
Differences : 좋다 vs 좋아하다
Cheat Sheet
Adjective 좋다 combines with a subject marker 이/가. Verb '좋아하다' combines with an objective marker 을/를.
Adjective '좋다' is not used with third person. '좋아하다’ is used with first- or second- or third-person subjects.
좋아하다 is not used for “current” feelings as it references past behaviors.
There is no significant difference in meaning when expressing personal thoughts.
Details
좋다 is an adjective (descriptive), and '좋아하다' is a verb (action).
좋다 is often translated as “like” in English that leads to confusion between the '좋다' & '좋아하다.
좋다 means “good” and “좋아하다” is action or behavior expressing the good feelings, ie “like”.
Adjective '좋다' combines with a subjects marker, while the verb '좋아하다' combines with an objective marker.
좋다 (Adjective)
저는 영화가 좋아요.
저는 게임이 좋다.
좋아하다 (Verb)
저는 영화를 좋아해요.
누나는 게임을 좋아해요
2. Adjective '좋다' is not used with third person. '좋아하다’ is used with first- or second- or third-person subjects.
좋다 (Adjective)
저는 음악이 좋아요. (O) / *오빠는 음악이 좋아요.(X) (오빠 is 3rd person)
우리는 공부가 좋아요.(O) / *친구는 공부가 좋아요.(X) (친구 is 3rd person)
좋아하다 (Verb)
오빠는 음악을 좋아해요. (O)
친구는 공부를 좋아해요. (O)
3. '좋아하다' implies past experience
(In a cafe) 나는 이 카페가 좋아요. (O) / 이 카페를 좋아해요.(X)
(After watching a movie) 이 배우가 정말 좋아요! (O) / 이 배우를 정말 좋아해요! (X)
Note: It’s mentioned earlier that ‘좋다' is not used for 2nd person subject. However, it is seeking an opinion on the very current state of feeling, ‘좋다' is used like the below example.
(Just before lunch)
철수 : 영희 씨, 찌개 좋아요? Younghee, are you good with stew?
영희: 네. 좋아요. Good.
4. No significant difference in meaning when expressing personal thoughts
저는 커피가 좋아요. / 저는 커피를 좋아해요.
저는 부산이 좋다. / 저는 부산을 좋아해요.
