The Meaning of shikou [嗜好] In Japanese

嗜好
しこう
Romaji: shikou N2

What does 嗜好 mean?

Translation and Meaning

taste, liking, preference, penchant

Definition

嗜好 means a person’s personal taste or preference. It refers to what someone enjoys or tends to favor, shaping choices in food, drink, activities, or lifestyle; the term is often used in neutral or analytical contexts to discuss individual or group preferences.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Personal taste or preference in general, describing what someone likes or tends to choose.
  • Indulgence or fondness, suggesting a habitual or cultivated liking that influences behavior.
  • In compounds like 嗜好品, denotes items kept for pleasure or luxury rather than necessity.

Composition

  • 嗜: to indulge; appetite or inclination
  • 好: like; fondness, preference
  • Combined meaning: a person’s refined taste or liking, i.e., their personal inclination

Usage

Used as a noun in neutral to formal contexts to denote a person’s tastes or preferences; commonly appears in discussions of consumer behavior, gastronomy, psychology, and lifestyle analysis. It can refer to tastes for substances (food, drink) as well as preferences for activities or stylistic choices.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of a casual sip (associated with enjoying taste) paired with liking (the second character) to recall that 嗜好 is about taste and preference.

Variations

  • 好み (konomi) — preference, taste; romaji konomi
  • 趣味 (shumi) — hobby, interest; romaji shumi
  • 嫌い (kirai) — dislike; romaji kirai

Example Phrases

  • 友人の嗜好を尊重して、誕生日の贈り物を慎重に選ぶ。
    Tomodachi no shikou o sonchou shite, tanjoubi no okurimono o shinchou ni erabu.
    I respect my friend’s preferences and carefully choose a birthday gift.
    Lista:
    • 友人の (tomodachi no) – friend’s
    • 嗜好を (shikou o) – preference (object marker)
    • 尊重して (sonchou shite) – respecting
    • 誕生日の (tanjoubi no) – birthday
    • 贈り物を (okurimono o) – gift (object marker)
    • 慎重に (shinchou ni) – carefully
    • 選ぶ (erabu) – to choose
    Core meaning: 「嗜好」 means personal taste or preference; here it is the object of 尊重する, shown with の (友人の嗜好).
嗜好