JLPT N1・N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜っぽい” and “〜めく”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜っぽい” and “〜めく”
2. 〜っぽい
3. 〜めく
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment
Q: What is the difference between “〜っぽい” and “〜めく”?
A: Both expressions indicate “having a certain feeling or atmosphere,” but they differ in meaning, usage, and stylistic nuance. Let’s take a closer look at each.
〜っぽい (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Gives that kind of feeling; has a quality similar to it
[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + っぽい
[A] い adjective い + っぽい
[Na] な adjective な + っぽい
[N] Noun + っぽい
[Examples]
このギョーザ、油っぽいよ。
This gyoza is oily.
この服、春っぽい色で素敵だね。
This dress has a spring-like color and looks lovely.
年をとって忘れっぽくなってきました。
As I get older, I’ve become more forgetful.
This expression can be broadly divided into four usage patterns. The meaning changes depending on the words it is used with.
① Noun + っぽい
Indicates that the noun is largely present and that something has qualities close to it.
Commonly used with: 水 (water), 油 (oil), 熱 (fever), 子ども (child), 大人 (adult), etc.
[Examples]
焼くときに油をひきすぎて、野菜が油っぽくなりました。
I used too much oil when cooking, so the vegetables turned out oily.
今日は熱っぽいので学校を休むことにします。
I’m feeling feverish today, so I’ve decided to stay home from school.
あの人はすぐに怒って子供っぽい性格です。
That person gets angry easily and has a childish personality.
② Color name + っぽい
Indicates that something is close to that color.
[Examples]
A: どんな色が好きですか。
B: そうですね、インディゴとかターコイズとか青っぽい色が好きです。
A: What kind of colors do you like?
B: Let’s see… I like blueish colors, like indigo or turquoise.
もうすぐハロウィンだから、部屋をオレンジっぽい色でデコレーションしよう。
Since Halloween is coming soon, let’s decorate the room in an orange-like color.
③ Negative adjective + っぽい
Indicates that a negative quality is apparent or resembles that quality.
Commonly used with: 荒い (rough), 安い (cheap), 暇 (idle), etc.
[Examples]
その服、布がペラペラで安っぽく見えるよ。
That outfit looks cheap because the fabric is so thin.
この店、お客さんがいなくていつも暇っぽいね。
This shop always seems idle since there are no customers.
④ Verb stem + っぽい (negative tendency)
Indicates a tendency to do something easily or quickly.
[Examples]
子供は何をやっても飽きっぽい性格なので、困っています。
Children have a tendency to get bored easily no matter what they do, so it’s a problem.
父は怒りっぽい性格なので、言葉を選ばなければなりません。
My father has a short temper, so I have to choose my words carefully.
忘れっぽいので、何でもメモをしておきます。
Since I’m forgetful, I make sure to write everything down.
〜めく (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
① To take on the quality of ～ / to feel like ～
② To have an appearance or state similar to ～
[Rule]
[N] Noun + めく
[Examples]
日ごとに春めいてきましたね。（①）
It’s starting to feel more like spring day by day.
冗談めいた話し方だけど、内容はとてもまじめですね。（②）
The way he talks sounds joking, but the content is actually very serious.
In both cases, it is often combined with sensory or abstract words, and the range of words it is used with is somewhat more limited than “〜っぽい.” It is also frequently used as part of an expressive or literary style.
This expression can be divided into two main usage patterns.
① Season-related noun + めく
Used when saying “It’s not fully ～, but it has that kind of atmosphere.”
Commonly used with: 春 (spring), 秋 (autumn), etc.
[Examples]
日差しが暖かくなって、春めいてきましたね。
The sunlight has grown warmer, and it’s starting to feel like spring.
涼しい風が吹いて、町は秋めいています。
A cool breeze is blowing, and the town has taken on an autumn-like atmosphere.
② Sensory or abstract noun + めく
Used to figuratively describe an atmosphere or impression, as in “it feels like ～.”
Commonly used with: 冗談 (joke), 謎 (mystery), 言い訳 (excuse), 皮肉 (sarcasm), etc.
[Examples]
彼は謎めいたことばかり言って、周りの人を困らせています。
He keeps saying mysterious things, which troubles the people around him.
後輩は言い訳めいたことばかり言っています。
My junior keeps making excuse-like remarks.
Let’ s Compare
The following two sentences are both grammatically correct and can be used naturally. However, there is a subtle difference in nuance between them.
[Examples]
①まだ2月だけど今日は春っぽい陽気だね。
② まだ2月だけど今日は春めいた陽気だね。
① “春っぽい”: Expresses a subjective impression that the weather clearly feels like spring. It is a casual expression often used in everyday conversation.
② “春めいた”: Indicates that it is not quite spring yet, but there are signs or an atmosphere of spring. It is slightly more objective and suited to written or poetic expression.
Additionally, “〜っぽい” can be used widely in both spoken and written language and is suitable for expressing the speaker’s subjective impressions.
On the other hand, “〜めく” has a literary and poetic tone, adding emotional depth to descriptions.
[Examples]
水面にきらめく光が哀愁っぽくて、心の奥を静かに撫でていきました。
水面にきらめく光が哀愁めいて、心の奥を静かに撫でていきました。
In this case, since the overall vocabulary is literary, using “〜めく” gives a more emotional and refined impression, while “〜っぽい” sounds somewhat more casual and everyday in tone.
Summary
| Meaning | Usage | Style | Perspective | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 〜っぽい | ・Has a quality or appearance similar to something ・Feels like something | ①Noun + っぽい: Contains much of something and has a quality close to it ②Color name + っぽい: Close to that color ③Negative adjective + っぽい: That negative quality is apparent ④Verb stem + っぽい: Has a tendency to do something easily or often (negative nuance) | Colloquial, casual | Subjective (speaker’s impression) |
| 〜めく | ・Feels like something ・Has an appearance or atmosphere similar to something | ①Season-related noun + めく: Not fully that season, but has its atmosphere ②Sensory or abstract noun + めく: Feels like that in some way | Literary, poetic, formal | Objective, lyrical (captures atmosphere or mood) |
Similer Articles
- JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
- JLPT N1・N3 Grammar – “〜だらけ” and “〜まみれ”
- JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜あげく” “〜末に” and “〜結果”
- JLPT N0・N1 Grammar – The Difference between “〜きらいがある” and “〜ふしがある”
- JLPT N2 Grammar – The difference between “〜に相違ない” and “〜に他ならない”
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