Skip to content
Kotomora

的

bull's eye, mark, target, object, adjective ending

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 200Strokes8

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

Explore all words using 的 →

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.