それっぽい

それっぽい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	それっぽい	それっぽくない
Polite	それっぽいです	それっぽくないですalso それっぽくありません
Past polite	それっぽかったです	それっぽくなかったですalso それっぽくありませんでした
Past	それっぽかった	それっぽくなかった
Te-form	それっぽくて	それっぽくなくて
Adverbial	それっぽく
Conditional	それっぽければ	それっぽくなければ
Tara conditional	それっぽかったら	それっぽくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

like that; that sort of; resembling

Used to describe something that gives the impression of being a certain way, often based on appearance or superficial traits. Can be used for people, things, or situations.

彼かれはそれっぽいことを言いうけど、本ほん当とうはよくわかっていない。
He says things that sound like that, but he doesn't really understand.
それっぽい服ふくを着きているけど、高たかそうには見みえない。
He's wearing clothes that look like that, but they don't look expensive.

i-adjective

seemingly authentic; genuine-looking; realistic; convincing

Often used when something appears credible or plausible at first glance, but may not be genuine. Common in contexts like fake news, imitation products, or plausible-sounding excuses.

そのニュースはそれっぽく書かかれていたが、結けっ局きょくデマだった。
The news was written in a convincing way, but it turned out to be fake.
彼かれの言いい訳わけはそれっぽかったけど、誰だれも信しんじなかった。
His excuse sounded plausible, but nobody believed it.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉がそれっぽく見みえるfor something to look like that / look the part
この帽ぼう子しをかぶるとそれっぽく見みえるよ。
If you wear this hat, you'll look the part.
それっぽいことを言いうto say something that sounds plausible or convincing
彼かれはいつもそれっぽいことを言いって、みんなを納なっ得とくさせる。
He always says convincing-sounding things and gets everyone to agree.
それっぽく振ふる舞まうto act in a way that seems genuine or fitting
初はじめての仕し事ごとだったけど、それっぽく振ふる舞まってみた。
It was my first time doing the job, but I tried to act like I knew what I was doing.
それっぽい理り由ゆうa plausible-sounding excuse or reason
彼かれはそれっぽい理り由ゆうをつけて会かい議ぎを欠けっ席せきした。
He gave a plausible-sounding excuse and skipped the meeting.

Related words

らしいN2sense 1
らしい attaches to nouns/verbs to mean 'seems like ~' based on evidence, while それっぽい is a more casual i-adjective describing a vague, appearance-based resemblance to 'that'.
いかにもN2sense 1
いかにも is an adverb emphasizing that something looks exactly as expected or stereotypical, while それっぽい focuses on a looser, superficial resemblance that may not be exact.
っぽいN2sense 1
っぽい is the general suffix meaning '-ish' that attaches to many nouns, while それっぽい is the specific combination with それ meaning 'like that' or 'that sort of thing'.

Etymology

Derived from それ (that) + っぽい (-ish, seems like). The suffix っぽい is a colloquial adjectival ending that attaches to nouns and stems to express resemblance or tendency.