A Corpus-based Investigation of Like Expressions in Japanese

The Japanese word "好きだ" (suki da, like) is a な-adjective (adjectival noun) used to express preferences. It typically appears in the structure "～が好きだ" to indicate liking someone or something. However, in practical Japanese usage, the structure "～を好きだ" is also used in certain contexts, raising questions about its grammatical variability and acceptability in modern Japanese. With advances in large-scale corpora, language research has increasingly transitioned into the era of big data, allowing for more systematic and empirical analysis of linguistic patterns. This study explores the grammatical role, frequency, and acceptance of this alternative structure, offering insights into language theory and language education.