-ic; -ical; -ive; -al
Productive suffix that turns many nouns into na-adjectival expressions, especially for qualities, fields, principles, or abstract properties: 科学的, 論理的, 積極的, etc.
科学的な説明が必要だ。
A scientific explanation is needed.
This is a scientific explanation.
彼の判断はとても合理的だった。
His judgment was very rational.
-like; -ish; characteristic of
Adds a sense of resembling, having the character of, or being in the style of the preceding noun. Depending on context it may sound descriptive, approximate, or slightly evaluative.
その店は日本的な雰囲気で人気がある。
That shop is popular for its Japanese-style atmosphere.
この場面には漫画的な表現が多い。
This scene has a lot of manga-like expression.
something like; along the lines of
Colloquial use after a quoted phrase or loose expression, especially as 的な or 的なこと. It softens the wording and means roughly “something like ...” or “along the lines of ...”.
彼は「とりあえずやってみよう」的なことを言っていた。
He was saying something like, “Let’s just try it for now.”
週末に集まろう的な話になった。
The conversation turned into something along the lines of getting together on the weekend.
-wise; in terms of; from the standpoint of
Colloquial viewpoint marker, often used adverbially as ~的には after a noun or pronoun: 私的には, スケジュール的には, 仕事的には, etc. It frames what follows as true from that angle.
私的には、この案が一番いい。
Personally, I think this proposal is the best.
スケジュール的には、来週が限界です。
Schedule-wise, next week is the limit.
Dated familiar or lightly disdainful suffix of address after a name, title, or occupation. This use is not productive in normal modern Japanese and is mainly a historical or literary point.
古い文章では、人名や職名の後の「的」が親しみや軽い見下しを表すことがある。
In older writing, 的 after a personal name or job title can express familiarity or slight disdain.
私的には、この案でいいと思う。
Personally, I think this plan is fine.
I said something like 'I'll do my best.'
He spoke up proactively.
This room has a family-like feel to it.
風 emphasizes outward style or manner of doing something, while 的 is broader and can describe abstract qualities or fields as well as style.
っぽい is a casual, often subjective or slightly negative way to say “-ish,” whereas 的 is more neutral and can attach to a wider range of formal or abstract nouns.
上 in compounds like 法律上 means “from the standpoint of” and is less colloquial than the viewpoint use of ~的には.
的 is the common, everyday suffix for '-like/-ish' and attaches freely to many nouns, while 然 is more literary and implies an inherent, essential quality.
的 read まと is a noun meaning a mark or target, while 的 read てき is a suffix meaning '-like' or '-ic' (e.g. 経済的); learners often confuse the two because they share the kanji.
的 is an adjectival suffix meaning '-like/-al' (e.g. 個人的 'personal'), while 化 is a verbal suffix meaning '-ization' or 'to become' (e.g. 個人化 'personalization').
的 (てき) is a homophone meaning 'target' or the adjectival suffix '-like/-ic', completely unrelated to 敵 (an enemy).
purpose; goal; aim; objective
overwhelming; crushing; dominant
comparatively; relatively
intellectual; mental
legal; juridical
Standard kanji spelling for the suffix てき. It attaches to nouns, pronouns, names, quotations, and similar expressions rather than normally standing alone.
No etymology is specified., 的 is the conventional spelling for the suffix てき, used to form na-adjectival and adverbial expressions from nouns and related phrases.
automatic; automatically
public; official
private; personal
decisive; definitive; conclusive
dramatic; striking; thrilling · extreme; drastic; intense
direct; straightforward
accurate; precise; exact; appropriate
human; personal
groundbreaking; revolutionary; epoch-making
hitting the target; striking home · proving right; coming true; being on the mark
large-scale; extensive; grand
pathological; morbid; unhealthy; abnormal
frank; direct; straightforward; concise
dynamic; kinetic
humane; humanitarian
quantitative; in terms of quantity
material; physical
aesthetic; esthetic
poetic; poetical
mental; psychological
static
external; outside