Learn Hardcore Korean: jeoneun bibimbabeul johahaeyo.

-는/은 is the topic marker. 저는 means “as for me.” It sets “me” as the topic of the sentence, often with a mild contrastive nuance (e.g., maybe others don’t, but I do). You could drop 저는 if the context already makes it clear who the subject is.

Why not 제가 instead of 저는?

저는 (topic) = “As for me, …”
제가 (subject) = “I (specifically) …” Both are grammatical but give different focus. 제가 비빔밥을 좋아해요 emphasizes that it’s I (not someone else) who likes bibimbap. Note: 저 + 가 becomes 제가 (not “저가”) by a fixed contraction.

Why is it 비빔밥을 and not 비빔밥를?

Use -을 after a noun ending in a consonant and -를 after a vowel:

비빔밥 ends in ㅂ (a consonant) → 비빔밥을
If it were 사과, it would be 사과를

Can I drop the object particle -을 here?

Yes, especially in casual speech: 비빔밥 좋아해요 is common and natural. In careful writing or when clarity is needed, keep the particle: 비빔밥을 좋아해요.

Why 좋아해요 and not 좋아요?

좋아하다 = “to like” (an action verb) → takes an object with -을/를: 비빔밥을 좋아해요.
좋다 = “to be good/liked” (a descriptive verb) → takes the subject with -이/가: 비빔밥이 좋아요.

Is 비빔밥이 좋아요 also a correct way to say “I like bibimbap”?

Yes. 비빔밥이 좋아요 literally means “Bibimbap is good (to me),” and it often expresses preference. Nuance:

비빔밥이 좋아요 highlights bibimbap itself as pleasing.
비빔밥을 좋아해요 highlights the act of liking.
Both are common; context decides the most natural choice.

How polite is 저는 비빔밥을 좋아해요?

It’s standard polite (addressee honorific) due to -요 and the humble 저. Variants:

More formal: 저는 비빔밥을 좋아합니다.
Casual: 나는 비빔밥을 좋아해.
Everyday spoken shortcut: 전 비빔밥 좋아해요.

When should I use 좋아하세요?

Use 좋아하세요 (honorific) when the subject is someone you honor (older person, teacher):

Asking: 선생님은 비빔밥을 좋아하세요?
Don’t use honorifics for yourself: say 저는 … 좋아해요, not 저는 … 좋아하세요.

What word order rules are at play here?

Korean is typically Subject–Object–Verb, and the verb comes at the end:

저는 (S) 비빔밥을 (O) 좋아해요 (V).
You can move pieces for emphasis, but keep the verb final:
비빔밥을 저는 좋아해요 (emphasizes the object).

How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?

저는 ≈ jeo-neun
비빔밥을 ≈ bi-bim-bab-eul (the ㅂ of 밥 links to the next syllable: sounds like “ba-beul”)
좋아해요 ≈ jo-a-hae-yo (often heard as “joa-haeyo”; don’t say “좋해요”)
Full: jeoneun bibimbapeul joahaeyo.

How do I make it negative or ask a question?

Negative: 비빔밥을 안 좋아해요 / 비빔밥을 좋아하지 않아요 (both mean “don’t like”).
Question: 비빔밥을 좋아해요?
More politely to someone older: 비빔밥 좋아하세요?

How do I say it in the past or future?

Past: 비빔밥을 좋아했어요.
Future/guess: 비빔밥을 좋아할 거예요.
“Used to”: context with time words, e.g., 예전에 비빔밥을 좋아했어요.

Do I have to say 저는?

No. Korean often drops subjects when they’re understood:
비빔밥(을) 좋아해요. Context fills in “I.”

How do I say “I also like bibimbap”?

저도 비빔밥을 좋아해요. = I also (me too) like bibimbap.
저는 비빔밥도 좋아해요. = I like bibimbap too (in addition to other foods).
The placement of 도 changes what is “also.”

Is it natural to say 비빔밥을 사랑해요?

Usually no; 사랑하다 is strong and mostly for people. For food, use intensifiers with 좋아하다:

정말/진짜/너무/아주 좋아해요.