Structure
Verb［ます］+ っぽい
［い］Adjective［い］+ っぽい
［な］Adjective + っぽい
Noun + っぽい
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Standard
About っぽい
っぽい (occasionally also seen as ぽい) is a suffix that may be attached to many different types of words, in order to create new い-Adjectives. In all cases, っぽい indicates something that is 'exhibiting characteristics of (A)'. This is most often in reference to the way (A) is acting, or the way (A) looks. In English, っぽい may be translated as '(A)ish', '(A)like', or 'tendency to (A)'. っぽい quite often carries a negative connotation.
As っぽい creates い-Adjectives from other words, it may be used with the conjunctive form of verbs, or the 語幹 (stem form) of any other word.
Caution
As っぽい creates new い-Adjectives, っぽい itself may be conjugated in exactly the same way as regular い-Adjectives.
- 昔は紫っぽかったのに今はなぜか赤っぽい。Back in the day, it was purpleish, but now for some reason it is reddish.
-
この靴なんか安っぽくない？Don't these shoes look cheapish?
Caution
The fundamental meaning of っぽい will change depending on what type of word it is being used with. The general rules are as follows:
Verb + っぽい - To have a tendency to do (A).
Adjective + っぽい - To exhibit all the signs of being (A).
Noun + っぽい - To obviously not be (A), although show signs of being (A).
From this, we can see that っぽい is generally based on the opinion of the speaker, rather than the innate qualities of what is being observed. Thus, with verbs, adjectives, and nouns, the speaker feels like (A) is in excess, compared to what would be expected. This 'being in excess of what is normal' in the opinion of the speaker is what creates the negative connotation.
Synonyms
的
~ly・~like・~al, Typical
Not studied yet
ふりをする
To pretend, To act as if
Not studied yet
ふりをする
To pretend, To act as if
Not studied yet
がち
Apt to do, Tend to do, Prone to do
Not studied yet
ぎみ
Looking, Feeling a little, Touch of, Tending to, Slightly
Not studied yet
げ
Seemingly, Giving appearance of, [Expresses emotions or feelings]
Not studied yet
そう
Look like, Appear, Seem, Have a feeling that
Not studied yet
らしい ①
Seems like, Apparently, I heard
Not studied yet
らしい ②
typical of, -ish・like, appropriate for, becoming of, befitting
Not studied yet
Examples
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寅さんは惚れっぽく、飽きっぽい。
Tora-san has the tendency to fall in love, and also has the tendency to lose interest. (~ish)
なんかこの牛乳は水っぽいな。
This milk is somewhat watery… (~ish)
怒りっぽい人はあまり好かれない。
People that have a tendency to get angry are not liked much. (~ish)
トムは記憶力がいいどころか、忘れっぽいよ。
Let alone having a good memory, Tom is forgetful. (~ish)
こういう時は黒っぽいスーツを着るべきか？
Should I wear a blackish suit for this occasion?
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っぽい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
Kert
彼の話は理屈っぽいから、あまり話をしたくはない。
Isn’t は at the end of the sentence excessive? As I understand it’s shitai -> shitakunai, but there’s no は
nekoyama
したくない is a direct way to say “I don’t want to do it”.
したくはない (this is the particle は) is a bit softer, “I don’t want to do it, but…”. Implying that the person may still do it. They don’t like it, but perhaps it’s necessary or hard to avoid. It’s also a bit more considerate because it’s not as direct a rejection as outright saying “I don’t want to”.
Kert
Thanks for the explanation!
Is there a bunpro grammar point on this? Maybe it’s after N3 somewhere?
UPD: found it in N2 https://www.bunpro.jp/grammar_points/402
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