Expressing Feelings Lesson 2
Master the nuances of expressing third-party emotions and appearances using がる, そう, げ, and っぽい.
Observing Others
Have you ever wanted to describe how someone else is feeling, or describe an impression you get from someone's behavior? In Japanese, we often use specific suffixes to distinguish between our own internal feelings and our observations of others.
The Grammar of Observation
We use specific forms to describe states that are visible to the observer.
- 〜がる: Used with i-adjectives to express that someone else is showing signs of a feeling (e.g., 寒がる - to act cold). 2. 〜げ: A literary way to say 'looks like' or 'seems' (e.g., 悲しげ - looking sad). 3. 〜っぽい: Used to describe a tendency or a quality that someone/something exhibits (e.g., 子供っぽい - childish).
Tip
Seeing is Believing
Observe how these suffixes change the nuance of the base adjective.
弟は寒がっている。
My younger brother looks cold.
彼女は悲しげに話した。
She spoke with a sad look.
彼は怒りっぽい性格だ。
He has a short-tempered personality.
Which sentence correctly describes a third party's visible state?
- 私は寒がります。
- ✓ 彼は寒がっています。
- 私は寒いです。
〜がる is used for third parties. '彼は寒がっています' means 'He looks cold'.
Nuance and Register
Choosing the right form depends on whether you are describing a temporary state or a permanent trait.
がる vs っぽい
〜がる
Temporary behavior/state
怖がる (to be scared)
〜っぽい
Inherent tendency/trait
忘れっぽい (forgetful)
Which form is more appropriate for a literary or formal description of someone's appearance?
- 〜がる
- ✓ 〜げ
- 〜っぽい
〜げ is a more formal, literary suffix used to describe someone's appearance or demeanor.
Advanced Nuances
Exploring the boundaries of these suffixes.
Exceptions and usage notes
Lesson Recap
You have learned how to use suffixes to describe the feelings and traits of others based on observation.