Best way to say "I like it"

[Crecker]

Hallo allemaal!

To like it or not to like it, that is the question.

When I want to say that I like somebody or something, it is normal to me to say:
"Ik vind (object) leuk!" or "Ik vind (object) prettig!" or "Dat is mooi!" or, sometimes, "Ik hou van (object)!".

But the most times I get corrected in some way.

So, is there a preferred way to say "I like it" in Dutch? Or which are the best ways and in which cases do I use the one or the other?

Thank you!

[Gules]

Hallo Crecker,

Ik heb hier onlangs nog iets over gelezen.

Houden van – referring to people (stronger connotation), things and food
Best avoided when referring to people (unless the desire to express elevated affection/love is intended); although, perhaps, one of the more dominant constructions when referring to liking 'things'.

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"Ik hou van mijn werk." – "I like my work/job."

These two constructions are better suited when referring to people and avoiding the connotation of 'love':
Aardig vinden – people/non-people; 'Leuk vinden' may be a safer option when referring to 'things'.
(Graag) mogen – people only

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"Ik vind haar erg aardig." / "Ik vind haar niet." – "I like her." / "I don't like her."
"Ik mag haar heel graag." / "Ik mag haar niet." – "I like her." / "I don't like her."
"Ik mág haar wel." – I quite like her.

(This use of 'mogen' is rather idiomatic, and its use here is reserved exclusively for 'people')

Leuk vinden – Can be applied to anything/anyone (except food, generally).

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"Vond je de film/picknick/avond/zeeman wel leuk?" – "Did you like the film/picnic/evening/seaman?"

Lusten – referring to food

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"Lust je Chinees eten?"

Lekker vinden – referring to food

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"Vind je Chinees eten wel lekker?"

Smaken – Food

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"Laat het je smaken." – "I hope you like it (= enjoy it)."
"Heeft het gesmaakt?" – "Did you like it?" (lit. Did it taste good?)

Understanding the use of 'bevallen', 'meevallen' and 'tegenvallen' in the context of 'to like' may be more trivial than other options mentioned in this post.

Bevallen – can be used 'impersonally'

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"Het leven in Canada bevalt me best." – "I really like life in Canada."
"Ik hou van het leven in Canada." – "I really like/love life in Canada."
"Hoe beval het (je) in Australië?" – "How did you like (it in) Australia?"

Becoming used impersonally, it can take a personal subject:

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"Ik geloof dat ik ze goed bevallen ben want ze willen dat ik nog eens langskom." – "I think they liked me because they want me to come again."

Meevallen (with zijn) – often used when things turn out better than expected; does not primarily mean 'to like' but can in certain contexts:

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"Ik dacht dat ik Japan verschrikkelijk zou vinden -maar het viel eigenlijk wel mee. || -en het viel inderdaad niet mee." – "I thought I would dislike Japan -but I quite liked it really || -and I did not like it either."

Tegenvallen (with zijn) – opposite of meevallen; does not primarily mean to 'dislike' but can in certain contexts:

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"Ik dacht dat ik Japan heerlijk zou vinden maar het viel (me) vreselijk tegen." – "I thought I would love Japan but it did not appeal to me / I did not like it."

To express that you like 'to do' something:

• Graag + verb in question

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"Ik lees graag." – "I like reading/to read."
"Dat kind speelt graag in de zandbak." – "That child likes playing in the sandbox."

• Houden van (+ 'er' construction in second example)

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"Ik hou van lezen." – "I like/love reading/to read."
"Dat kind houdt ervan om in de zandbak te spelen."

Compare:

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"Ze houdt van een koude douche."
"Ze neemt graag 's ochtends een koude douche."
"Ze houdt ervan om 's morgens een koude douche te nemen."

To express 'would like':

Graag willen

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"Ik zou graag een kopje koffie willen (hebben)."
"Ik wou graag een kopje koffie (hebben)."

If you 'want' or 'would like' someone else to do something, a dat construction should be used.

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"Ik wou (zo)* graag dat je me meer hielp met mijn huiswerk, vader." – "I would like you to help me more with my homework, father."

*adding 'zo' here would change the meaning of the sentence to: "I wish you would ... "

Thus:

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"Ik/Jij/Hij wil dat ik/jij/hij ... " –> "I/You/He wants me/you/him to ... "

Groetjes,

Gules

[Crecker]

Oh my! This should be a stand-alone section! I will take my time to read it! Thank you, Gules!

[licia]

Ik vind dit heel behulpzaam. Heel duidelijk. Dank je wel!

[inbox]

Waw
Erg nuttig!

Ik zeg altijd: Dat vind ik leuk.