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:

規範を守ることは社会的責任です。

Kihan wo mamoru koto wa shakaiteki sekinin desu

It is a social responsibility to protect the norm.

• 規範 (kihan) - norm, rule
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 守る (mamoru) - protect, obey
• こと (koto) - Abstract noun, in this case, "the act of obeying the rules"
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 社会的 (shakaiteki) - Social
• 責任 (sekinin) - responsibility
• です (desu) - verb "to be", in this case, indicating an affirmation

観客は熱狂的に拍手を送った。

Kankyaku wa nekkyouteki ni hakushu o okuttta

The audience applauded enthusiastically.

• 観客 (kankyaku) - Audience, crowd
• は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "public"
• 熱狂的に (nekkyouteki ni) - enthusiastically, fervently
• 拍手 (hakushu) - applause
• を (wo) - direct object particle, indicates that "applause" is the direct object of the action "send"
• 送った (okutta) - sent, sent

逞しい男性は魅力的です。

Tsuyoshiimono wa miryokuteki desu

A strong man is attractive.

• 逞しい - Strong, robust
• 男性 - man
• は - Topic particle
• 魅力的 - attractive, charming
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

本国の文化は多様で美しいです。

Honkoku no bunka wa tayou de utsukushii desu

The culture of the home country is diverse and beautiful.

• 本国 - It means "country of origin" or "home country".
• の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
• 文化 - refers to the culture of a people or nation.
• は - particle that indicates the main theme of the sentence.
• 多様 - means "diverse" or "varied".
• で - particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done.
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite or formal form.

清濁を分ける

Seidaku wo wakeru

Separate the pure from the unclean.

Divide the turbidity

• 清 - "dry; clear; clean"
• 濁 - "turbidity; impurity; dirt"
• を - object particle
• 分ける - "to divide; to separate; to share"