seeming; appearing; looking like
Attaches to adjective stems and some nouns to express an outward appearance or impression. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
He had a sad-looking face.
He had a sleepy-looking face.
She spoke with an air of confidence.
She wore an anxious-looking expression.
そう is the everyday, colloquial way to say something 'looks/seems like' something, while げ is a more literary, subtle suffix attached mainly to adjective stems.
っぽい is a casual spoken suffix meaning 'looks/seems like' and attaches broadly to nouns, whereas げ is more restrained and typically attaches to adjective stems in written or descriptive style.
気 read き is the common noun for 'spirit, mood, or feeling', while the same kanji read げ is a suffix meaning 'seeming/looking like' attached to adjective stems.
み (as in 寒み) makes a noun naming the quality itself, while げ (as in 寒げ) makes an adjective meaning 'looking/seeming ~', so they attach to the same stems but produce different parts of speech.
adultness; maturity
casual; nonchalant; unconcerned · ordinary; everyday; unremarkable
admirable; commendable; brave
steam; vapor
male presence; masculine aura
youthful impetuosity; youthful vitality
encouragement; pep talk; pick-me-up
cheer up; pep up; encourage
like that; in that manner
Suffix normally written in kana. The kanji form 気 is possible but rare for this suffix use.
Kanji spelling occasionally seen, but kana is strongly preferred for this suffix.
The suffix derives from 気, “air, appearance, or disposition,” with the voiced reading げ. It marks an outward appearance or suggestion of a quality.
take care; stay well
vague; dim; hazy; blurry; indistinct
inadvertently; without thinking; for no special reason · unexpectedly; actually; truthfully · without realizing; before one knows it
sad; sorrowful; pensive
fear; dread; fright
seeming to have; appearing to be
proud; boastful; bragging; conceited
nonchalantly; casually; unconcernedly
unlike; unbecoming; unworthy of