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
使用域
一般
About っぽい
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.
- 私は飽きっぽいから、何も続かない。Because I have a tendency to get sick of things, I can't continue with anything.
- 白っぽいやつをください。Please give me the whiteish one.
- タナカ君はファッション業界では有名っぽいよ!Apparently Tanaka-kun is popular in the fashion industry!
- 今の話は嘘っぽいけど本当の話なの。The story I just told you sounds like a lie, but it is actually true.
- 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?
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
らしい ②
typical of, -ish・like, appropriate for, becoming of, befitting
Not studied yet
的
~ly・~like・~al, Typical
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
Examples
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.
このカバンは安っぽいけど、タグを見たら高かった。
This bag looks cheap, but I looked at the tag and it was expensive.
唐揚げは油っぽくて、食べたいと思わない。
I don't even think about wanting to eat deep-fried chicken because it looks too greasy.
彼は飽きっぽいから、趣味を始めてもすぐにやめてしまう。
Because he has tendency to lose interest and give up, he quits soon after starting a new hobby.
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.
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Online
Contrasting っぽい、らしい、みたい
Japanese Stack Exchange
〜げ・〜がち・〜気味
Nihon5Kyoushi
Offline
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 267
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っぽい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
Kert
About 2 years ago
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
About 2 years ago
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
About 2 years ago
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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