的
bull's eye, mark, target, object, adjective ending
Readings
On'yomi
- テキ
Kun'yomi
- まと
Nanori
- いくは
- ゆくは
Meaning
的 centers on a precise point of focus: a literal target like a bull's eye, a figurative mark or object, and the grammatical ending that turns a noun into an adjectival target.
Most common words using 的
24 of 1,477- 的てきN2
-ical; -ive; -al; -ic; -y
- 目的もくてきN4
purpose; goal; aim; objective; intention; motive
- 圧倒的あっとうてき
overwhelming
- 比較的ひかくてきN2
comparatively; relatively
- 知的ちてきN1
intellectual
- 法的ほうてきN1
legal
- 性的せいてきN1
sexual (i.e. relating to biological sex)
- 徹底的てっていてきN1
thorough; exhaustive; complete
- 標的ひょうてき
target
- 自動的じどうてきN3
automatic
- 公的こうてきN1
public; official
- 私的してき
private; personal
- 決定的けっていてき
definite; final; decisive; conclusive
- 劇的げきてきN1
dramatic; exciting; touching
- 直接的ちょくせつてき
direct
- 的確てきかくN2
accurate; precise; exact; appropriate; apt; right
- 人的じんてき
human; personal
- 画期的かっきてきN1
ground-breaking; revolutionary; unprecedented; epoch-making
- 的中てきちゅうN1
hitting the target; striking home
- 大々的だいだいてきN1
great; grand; extensive; large-scale
- 端的たんてきN1
frank; direct; plain; straightforward; point-blank; concise
- 人道的じんどうてきN1
humane
- 量的りょうてき
quantitative; concerning the quantity
- 物的ぶってき
material; physical
Study
Etymology
的 combines 白 (white) and 勺, which likely contributes the sound. The original meaning is a bright white target or mark, from which the abstract and grammatical uses developed.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 白 (white) suggests a bright white spot, and the right side 勺 looks like a ladle or a mark. Imagine a white target with a ladle-shaped bull's eye: 的 is the mark you aim for.
Reading mnemonic
For テキ, picture a techie aiming a laser pointer at a target: techie -> テキ, and the red dot hits the bull's eye.