✏️The difference between [〜らしい] and [～っぽい]

This post is for intermediate–advanced Japanese learners!

If you can already speak some Japanese but want to understand the subtle differences between similar expressions, this is for you 👏

In this post, I’ll explain the difference between 「〜らしい」 and 「〜っぽい」.

Can you explain how these two expressions are different?

And who do you think each one is directed at?

「子(こ)どもらしい」VS「子(こ)どもっぽい」

What is the difference between “〜らしい” and  “～っぽい”？

一緒(いっしょ)に チェックしましょう☺️

Let’s find out together in this post!

🌟「～らしい」: It’s typical of~

「子(こ)どもらしい」 means “Childlike”, so this expression is used to describe real children.

✍️例(れい: example)

・わたしの甥(おい)っ子(こ)は毎日(まいにち)公園(こうえん)でかくれんぼや鬼(おに)ごっこなど子(こ)どもらしい遊(あそ)びをしている。

⇨ My nephew plays childlike games such as hide-and-seek and tag in the park every day.

・天才(てんさい)子役(こやく)の子(こ)どもらしい部分(ぶぶん)を見(み)て、少(すこ)し安心(あんしん)した。

⇨ I felt relieved when I saw the childlike side of the genius child actor.

You can use “〜らしい” when you want to talk about the typical image of something.

✍️例(れい: example)

・春(はる)らしい日(ひ)だね。

⇨ It’s a springlike day.

・落(お)とした財布(さいふ)が交番(こうばん)に届(とど)けられて戻(もど)って来(き)た。

「日本(にほん)らしい」と思(おも)った。

⇨ My lost wallet was returned to the police box and came back to me. I thought, “That’s so typical of Japan.”

“〜らしい” is also used when you want to say things like “It’s so [Person]” or “That’s typical of [Person].”

✍️例(れい: example)

・たけ先生(せんせい)らしいね。

⇨ That’s so like Take-sensei.

・この人(ひと)といると、自分(じぶん)らしくいられる。

⇨ When I’m with this person, I can be myself.

🌟「〜っぽい」: ~ish

「子(こ)どもっぽい」 means “Childish”, so this expression is used to describe someone who, although an adult, behaves in a childlike way.

・私(わたし)の友達(ともだち)、ちょっと子(こ)どもっぽいところがあるんだよね。

お腹(なか)すくと、すぐ不機嫌(ふきげん)になるし、「眠(ねむ)いから帰(かえ)る」とか言(い)ってくるし。

⇨My friend has a bit of a childish side.

When she gets hungry, she immediately becomes grumpy.And she says things like, “I’m sleepy, so I’m going home.”

When Japanese people hear this sentence, they immediately understand that this “友達(ともだち)” is not a child, but an adult.

“〜らしい” is used when you want to say, “It’s not actually true, but I think it seems that way.”

✍️例(れい: example)

・私(わたし)の友達(ともだち)はシンガポール人(じん)だけど、日本人(にほんじん)っぽいファッションをしている。

⇨ My friend is Singaporean, but they dress in a Japanese-like fashion.

・あの天才(てんさい)子役(こやく)は7歳(さい)だが、とても大人(おとな)っぽい。

⇨ That child prodigy is only seven, but they seem very mature.

Depending on the words it’s used with, it can carry a negative nuance.

✍️例(れい: example)

・あの人(ひと)の服(ふく)、子(こ)どもっぽいし、安(やす)っぽいね。

⇨ That person’s clothes look childish and cheap.

どうでしたか。(how’s my explanation?)

少(すこ)し難(むずか)しかったと思(おも)いますが、やっぱり日本語(にほんご)っておもしろいですよね👍

ぜひTomo Japaneseで一緒(いっしょ)にたくさん日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)しましょう！

I hope you enjoy learning and talking Japanese!

Takemoto

Tomo Japanese Language School

https://www.tomo-japanese.com/