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:

幸せは人生の最高の目的です。

Shiawase wa jinsei no saikou no mokuteki desu

Happiness is the ultimate goal of life.

Happiness is the best purpose of life.

• 幸せ - happiness
• は - Topic particle
• 人生 - life
• の - Possession particle
• 最高 - the best
• の - Possession particle
• 目的 - objective
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

実用的なアイデアを考える。

Jitsuyō teki na aidea o kangaeru

Think of practical ideas.

Think of practical ideas.

• 実用的な - practical, useful
• アイデア - idea
• を - Direct object particle
• 考える - Think, consider

学芸は文化的な活動です。

Gakugei wa bunkateki na katsudou desu

Gakugei is a cultural activity.

Gym is a cultural activity.

• 学芸 - means "art and culture" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, which indicates that the subject of the sentence is "学芸".
• 文化的な - Japanese adjective meaning "cultural".
• 活動 - Japanese noun meaning "activity".
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates that the sentence is an affirmative statement.

周期は定期的に繰り返されます。

Shuuki wa teikiteki ni kurikaesaremasu

Cycles repeat regularly.

The cycle is repeated regularly.

• 周期 - Period
• は - Topic particle
• 定期的に - regularly
• 繰り返されます - is repeated

動的なアプリケーションを開発するのはとても楽しいです。

Douteki na apurikeeshon wo kaihatsu suru no wa totemo tanoshii desu

Developing dynamic applications is very pleasant.

Developing a dynamic app is a lot of fun.

• 動的な - dynamic
• アプリケーション - application
• を - Particle that indicates the object of the action
• 開発する - develop
• のは - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• とても - very
• 楽しい - fun
• です - verb to be in the polite form

割り算は数学の基本的な計算方法です。

Warizan wa suugaku no kihonteki na keisan houhou desu

Division is a basic calculation method in mathematics.

Division is the basic calculation method in mathematics.

• 割り算 - It means "division" in Japanese.
• は - It is a TOPIC1TICLE particle indicating that "divisão" is the subject of the sentence.
• 数学 - It means "mathematics" in Japanese.
• の - It is a possessive particle indicating that "mathematics" is the owner of "division".
• 基本的な - It means "basic" or "fundamental" in Japanese.
• 計算方法 - means "calculation method" in Japanese.
• です - It is a closing partic1E31Cle that indicates that the sentence is complete and formal.

作物は農業の基本的な要素です。

Sakumotsu wa nōgyō no kihonteki na yōso desu

Crops are basic elements of agriculture.

Crops are the basic elements of agriculture.

• 作物 - cultivation
• は - Topic particle
• 農業 - agriculture
• の - Possessive particle
• 基本的 - Basic
• な - adjectival suffix
• 要素 - Element
• です - Verb to be/estar

保守的な考え方は時に必要です。

Hoshuteki na kangaekata wa toki ni hitsuyou desu

Conservative thinking is sometimes necessary.

Conservative thinking is sometimes necessary.

• 保守的な - conservative
• 考え方 - way of thinking
• は - Topic particle
• 時に - sometimes
• 必要 - necessary
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

今日の会談は非常に建設的でした。

Kyou no kaidan wa hijou ni kensetsu teki deshita

Today's lecture was very constructive.

Today's lecture was very constructive.

• 今日の会談 - "Kyou no kaidan" means "today's meeting" in Japanese.
• は - "Wa" is a grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 非常に - "Hijouni" means "a lot" or "extremely" in Japanese.
• 建設的 - "Kensetsuteki" means "constructive" in Japanese.
• でした - "Deshita" is a polite past form of the verb "to be" in Japanese.

この方法は効果的です。

Kono hōhō wa kōkateki desu

This method is effective.

This method is effective.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 方法 - noun meaning "method" or "way"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 効果的 - adjective that means "effective" or "efficient"
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form