Expressing Feelings Lesson 1
Master the N2 grammar points used to describe the feelings and appearances of others: がる, そう, げ, and っぽい.
Observing Others
In Japanese, you often cannot directly state someone else's internal feelings because you cannot experience them yourself. Instead, you describe how they appear or behave.
たなかさんは、あたらしいしごとにきょうみがあるみたいだね。
田中さんは、新しい仕事に興味があるみたいだね。
Tanaka-san seems interested in the new job, doesn't he?
うん、さっきからずっとたのしそうにはなしているよ。
うん、さっきからずっと楽しそうに話しているよ。
Yeah, he has been talking as if he is having fun for a while now.
The Grammar of Observation
We use specific suffixes to turn adjectives and verbs into expressions of observed states.
- 〜がる: Used with i-adjectives to describe someone else's feelings (e.g., 怖がる - to show fear). 2. 〜そう: Indicates an appearance based on visual observation (e.g., 楽しそう - looks fun). 3. 〜げ: A literary/formal way to express an appearance of a feeling (e.g., 悲しげ - looking sad). 4. 〜っぽい: Used to say something 'has the quality of' or 'tends to be' (e.g., 子供っぽい - childish).
Watch out
Seeing it in Action
Observe how these suffixes modify the base meaning of the adjectives.
弟は犬を怖がっている。
My younger brother is afraid of dogs.
彼女は悲しげな顔で言った。
She said it with a sad-looking face.
彼は子供っぽいところがある。
He has a childish side.
友達は新しいおもちゃを欲し【がっている】。
Hint: Use the form that describes someone else's desire.
My friend wants the new toy.
Nuance and Register
Choosing the right form depends on the level of formality and the specific nuance of 'appearance'.
〜そう vs 〜げ
〜そう
Common, conversational; used for visual impressions.
嬉しそう
〜げ
Formal, literary; implies a deeper, more refined observation.
嬉しげ
Which form is most appropriate for a formal novel or written report?
- 楽しそう
- ✓ 楽しげ
〜げ is a more literary and formal suffix compared to the conversational 〜そう.
Advanced Nuances
Exceptions and advanced usage.
Lesson Recap
We have explored how to describe the observed states of others using suffixes that shift the focus from the internal feeling to the external manifestation.