Translation and Meaning of: 的 - teki

If you are studying Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 的[てき]. This small particle may seem simple at first glance, but it carries meanings and usages that go beyond the obvious. In this article, we will explore what it actually means, how it originated, and how the Japanese use it in their daily lives.

In addition to understanding its translation and origin, we will see practical examples of how 的 appears in real contexts, from informal conversations to more formal expressions. If you want to memorize this word once and for all or just discover curiosities about it, keep reading!

The meaning and origin of 的

The word 的[てき] is a suffix that generally transforms nouns into adjectives, conveying the idea of "related to" or "characteristic of." For example, 科学的[かがくてき] means "scientific" (related to science), and 現実的[げんじつてき] means "realistic" (characteristic of reality). This usage is extremely common in modern Japanese, especially in formal and academic texts.

As for its origin, 的 comes from the kanji that originally meant "target" or "bullseye". Over time, its meaning expanded to represent something that is "directed at" or "pertinent to", evolving into the suffix we know today. This change reflects how the Japanese language adapts Chinese characters for unique grammatical functions.

How to use 的 in everyday Japanese

One of the most interesting features of 的 is its versatility. It can be added to nouns to create adjectives that describe qualities or relationships. For example, 経済的[けいざいてき] means "economic" (in the sense of financial efficiency), while 感情的[かんじょうてき] refers to something "emotional." This construction is so productive that new terms with 的 frequently emerge.

However, it is important to note that not every noun accepts 的 naturally. Some combinations sound strange or even incorrect to native speakers. Therefore, the ideal is to learn these words in context, observing how the Japanese use them. Listening to podcasts, watching TV shows, and reading articles can help internalize which combinations are natural.

Tips and curiosities for memorizing 的

An effective way to remember the use of 的 is to associate it with the concept of "target." Just as an arrow hits a specific target, the suffix 的 directs the meaning of the noun towards a characteristic or relationship. This mental image can facilitate the understanding of terms like 具体的[ぐたいてき] ("concrete," as something that reaches materiality) or 積極的[せっきょくてき] ("active," as someone who aims for action).

Another curiosity is that 的 appears frequently in political and social discussions in Japan. Terms like 社会的[しゃかいてき] ("social") and 政治的[せいじてき] ("political") are common in public debates. If you consume news in Japanese, you have probably encountered this structure several times without realizing it.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 目的 (mokuteki) - Objective or purpose
• 目標 (mokuhyou) - Specific goal or target, which may be related to a purpose
• 目的地 (mokutekichi) - Destination or place one seeks to reach
• 目的意識 (mokuteki ishiki) - Awareness or perception of the goal
• 目的性 (mokutekisei) - Feature or quality of having a purpose
• 目的論 (mokutekiron) - Theory of the goal or purpose
• 目的語 (mokuteki go) - Language or term related to the objective
• 目的思想 (mokuteki shisou) - Goal-oriented idea or thought
• 目的主義 (mokuteki shugi) - Pragmatism or goal-oriented ideology
• 目的達成 (mokuteki tassei) - Achieve or accomplish a goal
• 目的合致 (mokuteki gatchi) - Convergence or alignment with a goal
• 目的性意識 (mokutekisei ishiki) - Awareness of the nature of the objective
• 目的志向 (mokuteki shikou) - Guidance for the objective
• 目的意味 (mokuteki imi) - Meaning or importance of the objective
• 目的性欲求 (mokutekisei yokkyuu) - Desire based on a specific goal
• 目的性行動 (mokutekisei koudou) - Goal-oriented action
• 目的性思考 (mokutekisei shikou) - Thought based on a goal
• 目的性行為 (mokutekisei koui) - Behavior aimed at a goal
• 目的性関心 (mokutekisei kanshin) - Interest due to a goal
• 目的性行動理論 (mokutekisei koudou riron) - Theory about goal-oriented actions
• 目的性行動モデル (mokutekisei koudou moderu) - Goal-oriented behavior model

的

Romaji: teki
Kana: てき
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: -Ike; typical

Meaning in English: '-like;typical

Definition: What are you aiming for. The goal.

Example Sentences - (的) teki

See below some example sentences:

歌謡は日本の伝統的な音楽ジャンルです。

Kayou wa Nihon no dentouteki na ongaku janru desu

Kayo is a traditional Japanese music genre.

• 歌謡 - Japanese folk song
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 伝統的な - Traditional
• 音楽 - music
• ジャンル - genre
• です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)

無料はとても魅力的な言葉です。

Muryou wa totemo miryokuteki na kotoba desu

Free is a very attractive word.

Free is a very attractive word.

• 無料 - means "free" in Japanese
• は - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• とても - means "a lot" in Japanese
• 魅力的 - means "attractive" or "seductive" in Japanese
• な - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the adjective
• 言葉 - means "word" in Japanese
• です - is a polite way of saying "is" or "are" in Japanese

物質は化学的な性質を持っています。

Bussitsu wa kagakuteki na seishitsu o motte imasu

Materials have chemical properties.

The materials have a chemical nature.

• 物質 - means "matter" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence.
• 化学的な - compound adjective formed by the words "化学" (chemistry) and "的" (suffix indicating that something is related to something). It means "chemical".
• 性質 - means "property" in Japanese.
• を - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the sentence.
• 持っています - verb "持つ" (to have) conjugated in the polite and present form. It means "have".

的確な情報を入手した。

Tokaku na jōhō o nyūshu shita

I have accurate information.

• 的確な - I need, exact
• 情報 - Information
• を - Direct object particle
• 入手した - Obtained, acquired

知的な人は魅力的です。

Chiteki na hito wa miryokuteki desu

Intellectuals are attractive.

• 知的な人 - smart person
• は - Topic particle
• 魅力的です - is attractive

私は悲観的な考え方をすることはできません。

Watashi wa hikanteki na kangaekata o suru koto wa dekimasen

I can't think of pessimism.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 悲観的な - Japanese adjective meaning "pessimistic"
• 考え方 - Japanese noun meaning "way of thinking"
• を - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• する - Japanese verb meaning "to do"
• こと - A palavra japonesa que significa "coisa" é "もの" (mono).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• できません - Japanese verb meaning "not able to"

私たちは美味しい且つ健康的な食事を食べることが大切だと思います。

Watashitachi wa oishii katsu kenkō

I think it's important to eat delicious and healthy meals.

• 私たち - Personal pronoun "we"
• 美味しい - Adjective "delicious"
• 且つ - conjunction "and"
• 健康的な - adjective "healthy"
• 食事 - noun "meal"
• を - direct object" particle
• 食べる - verb "to eat"
• こと - noun "thing"
• が - subject" particle
• 大切 - adjective "important"
• だ - verb to be"
• と - quote" particle
• 思います - verb "to think"

総合的なアプローチで問題を解決する。

Sougouteki na apurouchi de mondai wo kaiketsu suru

Solve the problem with a comprehensive approach.

• 総合的な - comprehensive, complete
• アプローチ - approach
• で - particle that indicates the means or method used
• 問題 - problem
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• 解決する - to resolve

蕎麦は日本の伝統的な食べ物です。

Soba wa Nihon no dentōteki na tabemono desu

Soba is a traditional Japanese food.

• 蕎麦 (soba) - Japanese noodles made from buckwheat
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (Nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - Traditional
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - food
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present