Liking: mít rád, líbit se, chutnat, bavit
Mám rád fotbal. Líbí se mi Praha.
In short
Czech has several ways to say "I like". Mít rád is general liking (Mám rád kávu). Líbit se is for what you see or experience (Líbí se mi Praha). Chutnat is for food. Bavit is for things you enjoy doing. And rád + verb means "I like doing".
- Mám rád fotbal.I like football.
- Líbí se mi to město.I like this town.
- Chutná mi to.It tastes good. / I like it (food).
- Rád čtu.I like reading.
Full explanation
| Expression | Use | Who likes it? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mít rád + accusative | general liking, love | subject; rád / ráda / rádi agrees | Mám ráda čokoládu. |
| líbit se | looks, impressions | dative: mi, ti, mu… | Líbí se mi ty boty. |
| chutnat | food and drink | dative | Chutná ti ta polévka? |
| bavit | enjoying an activity | accusative: mě, tě, ho… | Baví mě hrát tenis. |
| rád + verb | liking to do something | subject | Rád vařím. |
- rád matches the person who likes: rád (man), ráda (woman), rádi (men or mixed group), rády (women, and also děti).
- With líbit se, chutnat, bavit the thing you like is the subject, and you are in the dative or accusative. It's like English "it pleases me".
Eaten something good? Tell your host Moc mi to chutnalo! It's the nicest compliment you can give a Czech cook.