喜欢
to like; to enjoy
xǐhuan
What does 喜欢 mean?
喜欢 (xǐhuan) is the standard verb for 'to like' or 'to enjoy' — applicable to people, objects, food, activities, and ideas. It covers a wide range of affection: from 我喜欢咖啡 (I like coffee, light preference) to 我喜欢他 (I like him, which can mean romantic interest depending on tone). Key grammar features for English speakers: 喜欢 takes a noun OR a verb directly after it, no preposition needed. 'I like to swim' is 我喜欢游泳 — no 'to' particle.
Negation uses 不: 不喜欢 (don't like). To intensify, add 很 (很喜欢 'really like') or 非常 (非常喜欢 'extremely like'). The second syllable 欢 is pronounced in the NEUTRAL tone (xǐhuan), NOT xǐhuān — this is a common pinyin error. Romantic note: 喜欢 is milder than 爱
Character breakdown
happy; joyful; to be pleased
joyful; merry
Memory hook: Both characters mean 'joy / happiness' — to 'like' something is to find joy in it. 喜 + 欢 = joy-joy.
Example sentences
我喜欢你。
Wǒ xǐhuan nǐ.
I like you.
spoken
你喜欢吃什么？
Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme?
What do you like to eat?
spoken
他很喜欢看书。
Tā hěn xǐhuan kàn shū.
He really likes reading.
neutral
我不喜欢喝茶。
Wǒ bù xǐhuan hē chá.
I don't like drinking tea.
neutral
我最喜欢中国菜。
Wǒ zuì xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.
I like Chinese food the most.
spoken
Common phrases with 喜欢
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喜欢 appears in 4 podcast episodes at natural native speed, with full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Synonyms
爱 means 'to love' and is much stronger than 喜欢. Use 喜欢 for preferences and mild affection; reserve 爱 for family, romantic partners, or strong passions. 我爱你 (I love you) is a major step beyond 我喜欢你.
喜爱 is more formal/written and slightly stronger than 喜欢 — often used for hobbies, art, public preferences. In everyday speech, stick with 喜欢.
Don't confuse 喜欢 with
FAQ
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire by listening
Hear 喜欢 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.
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