〜げ
ge
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N2, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
Looking… / seeming… (from the outside)
〜げ turns a feeling into what it looks like from outside: 楽しげ = looking happy, 不安げ = looking anxious, 言いたげ = looking like they want to say something. It makes a な-adjective (げな, げに). You use it about other people, whose feelings you can only see, not feel.
Literary and descriptive writing, narration. In conversation そうだ is more common. Fixed exception: 大人げない (childish, immature).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
い-adjective stem + げ (嬉しげ, 寂しげ, 楽しげ)な-adjective stem + げ (不安げ, 得意げ, 満足げ)Verb (ます stem) + げ, limited (言いたげ, 自信ありげ, 意味ありげ)Works as a な-adjective: げな + Noun / げに + Verb
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜げ | literary, third person | 彼女は寂しげに笑った |
| 〜そう | everyday | 彼女は寂しそうに笑った |
| 〜たげ | looks like wants to | 何か言いたげな顔 |
Natural examples
子供たちは楽しげに遊んでいる。
こどもたちはたのしげにあそんでいる。
The children are playing happily.
げに + verb: playing happily (adverb).
彼女は不安げな顔で、こちらを見た。
かのじょはふあんげなかおで、こちらをみた。
She looked at me with an anxious expression.
げな + noun: an anxious face.
彼は何か言いたげだった。
かれはなにかいいたげだった。
He looked like he wanted to say something.
言いたげ: looked like he wanted to say something.
彼は自信ありげに、プレゼンを始めた。
かれはじしんありげに、プレゼンをはじめた。
He started the presentation looking confident.
自信ありげ is a fixed expression.
子供たちは得意げに、自分の絵を見せてくれた。
こどもたちはとくいげに、じぶんのえをみせてくれた。
The children proudly showed me their drawings.
得意げ: with a look of pride.
Similar grammar and the difference
〜そうだ (appearance)
Everyday equivalent: 寂しそう.
A quality or tendency, not the look of an emotion. Compare side by side
〜気 (け): 人気, 寒気
Different suffix, different meaning.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 私は寂しげだ。
- ✓
- 私は寂しい。
- Why
- げ describes others as seen from outside; for yourself state the feeling directly.
- ✗
- 寂しいげ
- ✓
- 寂しげ
- Why
- Drop い before げ.
- ✗
- 大人げのある態度
- ✓
- 大人げのない態度
- Why
- 大人げない is a fixed negative expression.
Literary version of 〜そうだ (appearance). Mostly for emotions of a third person. 大人げない (childish) is a fixed exception. Adverb form げに is the most common in narration: 寂しげに, 楽しげに, 満足げに.
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- A third person's visible emotion in a narrative passage + blank + に / な = げ.
- Stem check: い-adjectives drop い (寂しげ), な-adjectives use the stem (不安げ).
- Reading passages use げ to show characters' feelings; use it to answer emotion questions.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜げ mean?
Looking… / seeming… (from the outside). 〜げ turns a feeling into what it looks like from outside: 楽しげ = looking happy, 不安げ = looking anxious, 言いたげ = looking like they want to say something. It makes a な-adjective (げな, げに). You use it about other people, whose feelings you can only see, not feel.
How do you form 〜げ?
い-adjective stem + げ (嬉しげ, 寂しげ, 楽しげ) / な-adjective stem + げ (不安げ, 得意げ, 満足げ) / Verb (ます stem) + げ, limited (言いたげ, 自信ありげ, 意味ありげ) / Works as a な-adjective: げな + Noun / げに + Verb. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜げ used?
Literary and descriptive writing, narration. In conversation そうだ is more common. Fixed exception: 大人げない (childish, immature).
What is the difference between 〜げ and 〜そうだ (appearance)?
Everyday equivalent: 寂しそう.
What is the difference between 〜げ and 〜っぽい?
A quality or tendency, not the look of an emotion.
What is a common mistake with 〜げ?
Wrong: 私は寂しげだ。 Right: 私は寂しい。 げ describes others as seen from outside; for yourself state the feeling directly.
Quick check
彼女は（ ）に、遠くの空を見つめていた。