What it means
っぽい is an i-adjective suffix meaning “-ish” or “-like.” It describes a noticeable quality or tendency associated with a noun, a verb stem, or an i-adjective stem. It often expresses the speaker’s impression and can suggest that the quality is excessive or undesirable, such as being childish, forgetful, or cheap-looking. As an i-adjective, it changes to っぽく, っぽかった, and other normal adjective forms when needed.
Usage note
っぽい often carries a subjective or mildly negative nuance, so it is not always a neutral description. The polite counterpart is made by adding です, as in っぽいです; the suffix itself does not change.
How to use it
子供っぽいです。
Childish.
この時計は安っぽいです。
This watch looks cheap.
彼は飽きっぽいです。
He gets bored easily.
子供っぽい。
Childish.
この時計は安っぽい。
This watch looks cheap.
彼は飽きっぽい。
He gets bored easily.
Example sentences
この腕時計は値段のわりに安っぽいです。
This wristwatch looks cheap considering its price.
最近、父は忘れっぽくなり、眼鏡を冷蔵庫に置くことがあります。
Recently, my father has become forgetful and sometimes puts his glasses in the refrigerator.
この子ども向けの絵本は内容が大人っぽいです。
The content of this picture book for children is adult-like.