JLPT N3
〜っぽい
Even though that person is already 30 years old, the things they say are really childish.
📖 Explanation & Nuance
ENGLISH EXPLANATION
「〜っぽい」 indicates that something strongly resembles or has the characteristics of something else, often with a slightly subjective or negative nuance. It means "-ish," "-like," or "tends to be." For example, 「子供っぽい」 means "childish." It attaches to nouns, verb masu-stems, or adjective roots.
JAPANESE EXPLANATION
「〜っぽい」は、そのものの性質を強く持っている、あるいは〜のように見えることを表します。しばしば少し否定的なニュアンスを伴います。「子供っぽい」は「子供のような」という意味です。名詞などに接続します。
📝 Example Sentence
あの人はもう30歳なのに、言うことが本当に子供「っぽい」ね。
Even though that person is already 30 years old, the things they say are really childish.
Practice Quiz
Verify your grammar strength for "〜っぽい"
あの人はもう30歳なのに、言うことが本当に子供（ ）ね。
🎉 正解 / Correct!
解説 (JP): 「〜っぽい」は、そのものの性質を強く持っている、あるいは〜のように見えることを表します。しばしば少し否定的なニュアンスを伴います。「子供っぽい」は「子供のような」という意味です。名詞などに接続します。\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ らしい: 'らしい' is used when someone acts exactly like what they actually ARE. Since a 30-year-old is an adult, you can't say they are '子供らしい' (like a typical good kid)! To criticize them for acting immature, use '〜っぽい'.\n❌ がち: 'がち' implies a frequency ('often does X'). You cannot say 'often child'! \n❌ 気味: '気味' means 'feeling slightly like'. Being childish isn't a slight sickness you catch! Use 'っぽい' for deep characteristics.
Explanation (EN): 「〜っぽい」 indicates that something strongly resembles or has the characteristics of something else, often with a slightly subjective or negative nuance. It means \"-ish,\" \"-like,\" or \"tends to be.\" For example, 「子供っぽい」 means \"childish.\" It attaches to nouns, verb masu-stems, or adjective roots.\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ らしい: 'らしい' is used when someone acts exactly like what they actually ARE. Since a 30-year-old is an adult, you can't say they are '子供らしい' (like a typical good kid)! To criticize them for acting immature, use '〜っぽい'.\n❌ がち: 'がち' implies a frequency ('often does X'). You cannot say 'often child'! \n❌ 気味: '気味' means 'feeling slightly like'. Being childish isn't a slight sickness you catch! Use 'っぽい' for deep characteristics.
Explanation (EN): 「〜っぽい」 indicates that something strongly resembles or has the characteristics of something else, often with a slightly subjective or negative nuance. It means \"-ish,\" \"-like,\" or \"tends to be.\" For example, 「子供っぽい」 means \"childish.\" It attaches to nouns, verb masu-stems, or adjective roots.\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ らしい: 'らしい' is used when someone acts exactly like what they actually ARE. Since a 30-year-old is an adult, you can't say they are '子供らしい' (like a typical good kid)! To criticize them for acting immature, use '〜っぽい'.\n❌ がち: 'がち' implies a frequency ('often does X'). You cannot say 'often child'! \n❌ 気味: '気味' means 'feeling slightly like'. Being childish isn't a slight sickness you catch! Use 'っぽい' for deep characteristics.
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