Meaning
The suffix 的 forms な-adjectives meaning “related to…” or “in character”: 経済的, economic/economical; 科学的, scientific. It is especially common with Sino-Japanese words but also occurs with loanwords, such as システム的. Compatibility depends on the word and register. Normally use 的な before N and 的に before V.
Formation
- N (often Sino-Japanese)＋的な＋N: 経済 → 経済的な理由, 伝統 → 伝統的な建物
- N (often Sino-Japanese)＋的に＋V／A (adverb): 科学 → 科学的に証明する, 世界 → 世界的に有名だ
- Predicate: N (often Sino-Japanese)＋的だ／的です, negative 的じゃない／的ではない: 現実 → 現実的じゃない
- Special case: 比較的 works as an adverb without に (比較的安い)
When to use it
- Where to use it
- Everywhere from news and business to everyday talk: 基本的に, 個人的には, 具体的な例. Especially frequent in written and formal Japanese.
- Where not to use it
- It cannot be added mechanically to every word. “Childish” normally uses 子どもっぽい; 子ども的な needs a special context. Casual 見た目的に / 気持ち的に are not models for formal prose. In the ordinary attributive pattern, use 経済的な問題, not 経済的の問題.
Examples
20 sentences-
経済的な理由で、留学をあきらめた。
I gave up on studying abroad for financial reasons.
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この方法は科学的に証明されていない。
This method hasn't been scientifically proven.
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もっと具体的な例を挙げてもらえますか？
Could you give a more concrete example?
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個人的には、その案に賛成です。
Personally, I'm in favor of that proposal.
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週末は基本的に家で過ごします。
I basically spend my weekends at home.
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毎日少し歩くだけでも、ダイエットには効果的です。
Even just walking a little every day is effective for losing weight.
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京都には伝統的な建物がたくさん残っている。
Many traditional buildings still survive in Kyoto.
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その計画は、あまり現実的じゃないと思う。
I don't think that plan is very realistic.
12 more examples
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この店は比較的安くて、学生に人気がある。
This shop is relatively cheap and popular with students.
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彼女は世界的に有名な歌手になった。
She became a world-famous singer.
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健康的な生活を送るために、毎朝ジョギングしている。
I jog every morning so I can live a healthy life.
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明日は全国的に晴れるでしょう。
Tomorrow it will be sunny across the country.
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彼女は授業で積極的に発言する。
She actively speaks up in class.
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この絵の色使いは、とても印象的です。
The use of color in this painting is very striking.
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その説明は論理的ではないので、納得できない。
That explanation isn't logical, so I can't accept it.
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今年の冬は、比較的暖かい日が多かった。
This winter there were a lot of relatively warm days.
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この問題は、技術的に解決できますか？
Can this problem be solved technically?
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寿司は、日本の代表的な料理の一つです。
Sushi is one of Japan's representative dishes.
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仕事は忙しくないが、精神的に疲れている。
Work isn't busy, but I'm mentally exhausted.
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感動的な映画を見て、涙が止まらなかった。
I watched a moving film and couldn't stop crying.
Important notes
- 個人的には, 基本的には — 的に＋は marks a viewpoint — “personally”, “basically”.
- N＋の＋N: N＋の is plain possession or topic (経済のニュース, economic news); 的な describes a quality (経済的な負担, a financial burden). Compare 経済の問題, an economic issue, with 経済的な問題, a financial problem.
Common mistakes
- ✗ 具体的の例 → ✓ 具体的な例 — 的 makes a な-adjective, so it takes な before a noun.
- ✗ 科学的な証明された → ✓ 科学的に証明された — before a verb you need the adverbial 的に.
- △ 子ども的な考え (intended: “a childish idea”) → 子どもっぽい考え — っぽい is the usual choice for that meaning. 子ども的な is possible in a special context describing properties characteristic of children.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
- 〜らしいらしい in its typicality use means “characteristic of N”; 的 means “related to N, of that character.” Both have lexical restrictions; word origin alone does not determine the choice.
- ～っぽいっぽい usually expresses conversational resemblance or a tinge; 的 describes character or relation to a concept, often in formal vocabulary. The choice depends on the particular word and meaning.
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