좋아하는 거 (Joahaneun geo): Asking What Someone Likes

Someone asks across the table

The first line is small. 뭐 좋아해요? It does not demand a life plan. It asks for a thing or a pastime you can name before the food arrives.

취미가 뭐예요? is narrower. That one wants a hobby label: 운동이요, 읽기요, 영화요.

Do not open with a rule list. Open with the thing you actually like, even if that answer is only 커피요.

영화를 좋아해요.
yeonghwareul joahaeyo — I like movies.

를 marks the object of 좋아하다. The verb acts on 영화. In fast speech the particle often drops: 영화 좋아해요. The job is the same.

When the like is a doing

A noun is not always enough. You may like films as objects, or you may like the sitting and watching.

영화 보는 거 좋아해요.
yeonghwa boneun geo joahaeyo — I like watching movies.

보는 거 packages 보다 as a noun. -는 것 is the full form. 거 is the spoken cut. 음악 듣는 거 좋아해요. 운동하는 거 좋아해요.

That is the split this page exists for. 영화를 좋아해요 can stop at the thing. 보는 거 likes the activity. If you only learn the noun, you cannot say you like cooking, only food.

요리하는 거 좋아해요 and 한식을 좋아해요 can both be true. One is the doing. One is the food.

Which one is good

A friend holds up two choices.

뭐가 좋아요?
mwoga joayo? — Which one is good?

가 marks the unknown pick. 이 노래가 좋아요. You are naming new information, not setting a contrast topic.

저는 매운 거 좋아해요 is fine when you then contrast: 친구는 안 매운 거 좋아해요. 은/는 waits for that kind of split. The first answer to 뭐가 좋아요 is still 이거예요 or 이 노래가 좋아요.

별로예요 lets you refuse a suggestion without a speech. 싫어해요 is heavier. Use it when you mean it.

One test: if you can hold the thing, 을/를 can mark it. If you are naming the doing, put -는 거 in the middle.