GRAMMAR
〜っぽい
-ish
like
Explanation
NOTE
〜っぽい is a casual suffix meaning "like," "-ish," or "tending toward." It attaches to nouns or verb ます-stems.
彼女は子供っぽい。
She is childish / acts like a child.
Often slightly negative — not a pure compliment
NOTE
It conjugates like an i-adjective. It implies something superficially resembles X — sometimes with a slightly critical nuance.
STRUCTURE
N辞
っぽいこの色は水っぽい。
Kono iro wa mizu ppoi.
This color is watery / looks watery.
あの人は外国人っぽい。
Ano hito wa gaikokujin ppoi.
That person seems foreign / looks like a foreigner.
彼女の話は嘘っぽい。
Kanojo no hanashi wa uso ppoi.
Her story sounds like a lie.
STRUCTURE
Vます
っぽい最近、忘れっぽい。
Saikin, wasureppoi.
I've been forgetful lately.
怒りっぽい人だと思う。
Okorippoi hito da to omou.
I think he is an irritable / quick-tempered person.
彼女は飽きっぽい。
Kanojo wa akippoi.
She gets bored easily / is fickle.
Practice exercises
1
この部屋は少し散らかりっぽ。
This room is a bit -ish (messy).
Answer
っぽ
2
このカレーは辛い過ぎ。
This curry is -ish (spicy-ish).
Answer
過ぎ
3
このケーキ、甘っぽい。
This cake is -ish (sweet-ish).
Answer
っぽい
4
弟はすぐに飽きっぽいから、長続きしない。
My little brother gets bored easily, so he never sticks with anything.
Answer
っぽい
5
この料理は安い食材を使っていて、安っぽい。
This dish uses cheap ingredients and looks cheap.
Answer
っぽい
6
彼の服はいつも男の子っぽい。
His clothes always look boyish.
Answer
っぽい
7
この映画はちょっと子供っぽい。
This movie is a bit childish.
Answer
っぽい
8
彼は泣きっぽいな性格だ。
He has a crybaby-ish personality.
Answer
っぽい
9
最近、彼女は怒りっぽい。
Lately, she has been quick to get angry.
Answer
っぽい
10
弟はすぐに飽きっぽいから、困る。
My little brother gets bored easily, so it's a problem.
Answer
っぽい
11
彼女は子供っぽい。
She is childish / acts like a child.
Answer
っぽい