っぽい
🃏 Flashcard
っぽい
ppoi
Tap to reveal usage
seems; somewhat; -ish; easily does~;
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
ppoi
Post ID
50910
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
seems; somewhat; -ish; easily does~;
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something seems or is somewhat like something, or that someone tends to do something.
Attaches to
Attach to the noun directly, the stem of な-adjectives, the stem of い-adjectives (dropping い), or the ない-stem of verbs (the form before ない, e.g., 忘れない→忘れっぽい). For verbs, it is not the ます-stem or て-form.
っぽい is a casual but common suffix meaning 'seems', 'somewhat', or '-ish'. When attached to a noun, it suggests that something has the qualities of that noun. For example, 子供っぽい means 'childish', not 'like a child' in a cute way, but rather 'immature'. Attached to a な-adjective stem, it softens the adjective: 大人っぽい means 'mature-looking' or 'seems grown-up'. With verbs, it indicates a tendency to do that action easily or often, like 忘れっぽい meaning 'forgetful' (tends to forget). Note that っぽい is not typically used with ます-stem or て-form; it attaches to the ない-stem of verbs.
彼は子供っぽいところがある。
Kare wa kodomo-ppoi tokoro ga aru.
He has a childish side.
このスープは水っぽい。
Kono suupu wa mizu-ppoi.
This soup is watery.
最近、疲れやすい。
Saikin, tsukare-yasui.
Lately I get tired easily.
Not らしい
らしい means 'typical of' or 'seems based on evidence', e.g., 子供らしい means 'childlike' in a positive sense, while っぽい often has a negative or casual nuance. Also, らしい can be used for hearsay (e.g., 雨が降るらしい 'I hear it will rain'), which っぽい cannot.
Register
っぽい is casual and used in everyday conversation; it's less formal than らしい or ようだ, and not used in formal writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
っぽい
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat っぽい three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using っぽい. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern っぽい mean?
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Seems; somewhat; -ish; easily does~;
What JLPT level is っぽい?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use っぽい in a sentence?
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Attach っぽい (ppoi) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is っぽい formal or casual Japanese?
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っぽい is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember っぽい long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.