Mnemonic: A woman (女) holding a child (子) — what could be better? The character for good and like was built on this image. It is one of the most satisfying compositional stories in all of kanji.
Kun'yomi (Japanese)
す.き・この.む
su-ki · kono-mu
すき — like, fond of (な-adjective used with が: ～が好きです). このむ — to prefer, to be fond of (verb, more formal)
On'yomi (Chinese-derived)
コウ
kō
Used in compounds: 好意 (kōi — goodwill), 好奇心 (kōkishin — curiosity), 良好 (ryōkō — satisfactory/good condition)
Mandarin Chinese
hǎo · hào
hǎo (3rd) · hào (4th tone)
hǎo — good, fine, well (most common). hào — to like, to be fond of (less common, literary). 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — hello (lit. "you good")
Example Words
好き
すき (suki)
Like / fond of — one of the first expressions learners need: 日本語が好きです
大好き
だいすき (daisuki)
Love / really like — stronger than 好き, used for people, food, hobbies