〜っぽい
ppoi
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N3, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
-ish, tends to, looks like
〜っぽい attaches to nouns, adjective stems, and verb stems to mean "-ish" or "tends to": 子供っぽい (childish), 忘れっぽい (forgetful), 安っぽい (cheap-looking). It conjugates like an い-adjective (っぽくない, っぽかった). The tone is often slightly negative or critical, but not always (大人っぽい can be praise).
Casual speech and informal writing. Very common in everyday descriptions of people, colours, and behaviour (黒っぽい, 怒りっぽい). In formal writing use 〜のようだ or 〜がちだ.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + っぽい (子供っぽい / 油っぽい / 黒っぽい)い-adjective stem + っぽい (安っぽい / 荒っぽい)Verb (ます-stem) + っぽい (忘れっぽい / 怒りっぽい / 飽きっぽい)Conjugates as い-adjective: っぽくない / っぽかった / っぽく見える
Visual diagram
| Aspect | 〜っぽい | 〜らしい (typical) | 〜がちだ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | -ish; has the flavour of; tends to | typical of, as X should be | tends to (often negatively) |
| Tone | casual, often slightly negative | positive, 'true to type' | neutral to negative |
| Example | 子供っぽい (childish) | 子供らしい (childlike, as a child should be) | 病気がちだ (sickly) |
| Attaches to | nouns, adj stems, verb stems | nouns | verb stems, some nouns |
Natural examples
彼は最近忘れっぽくなった。
かれはさいきんわすれっぽくなった。
He has become forgetful lately.
Verb stem + っぽい: forgetful; a tendency.
子供っぽい話し方はやめなさい。
こどもっぽいはなしかたはやめなさい。
Stop talking in a childish way.
Noun + っぽい: childish (critical).
この服は安っぽく見える。
このふくはやすっぽくみえる。
These clothes look cheap.
Adjective stem + っぽい + く見える: looks cheap.
彼は怒りっぽいので、話すときは気をつけたほうがいい。
かれはおこりっぽいので、はなすときはきをつけたほうがいい。
He is quick to anger, so you should be careful when talking to him.
怒りっぽい: a personality tendency.
このスープは油っぽくて、あまり好きじゃない。
このスープはあぶらっぽくて、あまりすきじゃない。
This soup is oily, and I don't like it much.
Noun + っぽい describing a quality; te-form っぽくて.
Similar grammar and the difference
〜らしい (typical)
"True to type", usually positive: 男らしい vs. 男っぽい (mannish, for a woman).
〜がちだ
"Tends to" for negative habits or states; more formal.
〜気味
"A touch of" (風邪気味): a slight state, not a character.
〜みたいだ
"Like": comparison, not a suffix.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 子供っぽいの服
- ✓
- 子供っぽい服
- Why
- っぽい is an い-adjective; no の before a noun.
- ✗
- 忘れるっぽい
- ✓
- 忘れっぽい
- Why
- Attach to the ます-stem, not the dictionary form.
- ✗
- 報告書：この製品は安っぽいです。
- ✓
- 報告書：この製品は安価な印象を与える。
- Why
- Too casual for formal writing.
Colour words: 白っぽい / 黒っぽい / 赤っぽい (-ish). Common personality words: 飽きっぽい, 怒りっぽい, 忘れっぽい, 理屈っぽい. 大人っぽい can be praise; 子供っぽい is criticism.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- If the sentence describes an impression or tendency casually and the blank follows a noun or stem, choose っぽい.
- Distinguish 子供っぽい (childish, negative) from 子供らしい (childlike, positive).
- Check the stem: 忘れっぽい, 怒りっぽい.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜っぽい mean?
-ish, tends to, looks like. 〜っぽい attaches to nouns, adjective stems, and verb stems to mean "-ish" or "tends to": 子供っぽい (childish), 忘れっぽい (forgetful), 安っぽい (cheap-looking). It conjugates like an い-adjective (っぽくない, っぽかった). The tone is often slightly negative or critical, but not always (大人っぽい can be praise).
How do you form 〜っぽい?
Noun + っぽい (子供っぽい / 油っぽい / 黒っぽい) / い-adjective stem + っぽい (安っぽい / 荒っぽい) / Verb (ます-stem) + っぽい (忘れっぽい / 怒りっぽい / 飽きっぽい) / Conjugates as い-adjective: っぽくない / っぽかった / っぽく見える. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜っぽい used?
Casual speech and informal writing. Very common in everyday descriptions of people, colours, and behaviour (黒っぽい, 怒りっぽい). In formal writing use 〜のようだ or 〜がちだ.
What is the difference between 〜っぽい and 〜らしい (typical)?
"True to type", usually positive: 男らしい vs. 男っぽい (mannish, for a woman).
What is the difference between 〜っぽい and 〜がちだ?
"Tends to" for negative habits or states; more formal.
What is a common mistake with 〜っぽい?
Wrong: 子供っぽいの服 Right: 子供っぽい服 っぽい is an い-adjective; no の before a noun.
Quick check
祖父は最近（ ）なって、同じことを何度も聞く。