Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
~っぱい (〜ppai)

~っぱい (〜ppai)

Short explanation:

Expresses fullness or completeness; 'full', 'full of', 'filled with'.

Formation:

Noun + で + っぱい, Verb-てform + っぱい

Examples:

部屋が荷物でいっぱいです。
Heya ga nimotsu de ippai desu.
The room is full of luggage.
彼女は笑顔でいっぱいでした。
Kanojo wa egao de ippai deshita.
She was full of smiles.
彼は仕事をしていっぱいです。
Kare wa shigoto o shite ippai desu.
He is completely absorbed in his work.
公園はお花でいっぱいです。
Kouen wa o-hana de ippai desu.
The park is filled with flowers.

Long explanation:

The ~っぱい grammar point is used to express the idea of fullness or something being completely filled with something else. It can be translated as 'full', 'full of', or 'filled with' in English. The formation differs depending on whether it is used with a noun or verb.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~っぱい (〜ppai)

Japanese Grammar Point: ~っぱい (〜ppai)

Grammar Point: ~っぱい (~ppai)

1. Introduction

The suffix ~っぱい (~ppai) is commonly used in Japanese to emphasize a particular quality or characteristic of a noun. It conveys the idea of being "full of" or "saturated with" the quality that the base noun describes.

2. Core Grammar Explanation

Detailed Explanation

  • Meaning: The suffix ~っぱい indicates that something possesses a high degree of a certain quality, often to an excess or saturation.
  • Structure:
    • Base Noun + っぱい
  • This construction applies mainly to nouns, and it creates an adjective that describes the extent of the noun's quality.

Formation Diagram

Noun + っぱい = Quality Adjective
Base Noun Meaning Resulting Adjective
子供 (こども) Child 子供っっぱい (こどもっぱい) - Childlike, childish
苦い (にがい) Bitter 苦っぱい (にがっぱい) - Bitter (to a full extent)
隙間 (すきま) Gap 隙間っぽい (すきまっぽい) - Gap-like, having gaps

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparison with 〜っぽい (〜ppoi)

  • Similarities: Both powerful expressions denote a characteristic or quality.
  • Differences:
    • ~っぱい implies there is a lot of the quality (full of).
    • ~っぽい can denote a resemblance or tendency, and doesn't necessarily imply intensity.

Examples:

  • 子供っぽい (こどもっぽい): Childish (tending to behave like a child)
  • 子供っぱい (こどもっぱい): Childlike (full of qualities of a child, more intense)

4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

  1. 子供っぽい (こどもっぽい)

    • 彼はちょっと子供っぽいですね。
      • (Kare wa chotto kodomo ppai desu ne.)
      • He is a bit childish.
  2. 苦っぱい (にがっぱい)

    • このお菓子は苦っぱいです。
      • (Kono okashi wa nigappaidesu.)
      • This candy is very bitter.
  3. 暑っぱく (あつっぱく)

    • 今日は暑っぱくてたまりません。
      • (Kyou wa atsuppaku te tamarimasen.)
      • It’s so hot today, I can’t stand it.

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

  • Using ~っぱい can exhibit emotional nuance. For instance, calling something "child-like" can imply both innocence and naivety, reflecting social norms around maturity and behavior.

Idiomatic Expressions

  • "バカっぽい" (baka-ppoi): This means "foolish" or "silly," often used among friends in a teasing manner.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  • Mistake: Using ~っぱい with nouns that do not naturally fit.
  • Tip: Ensure the base noun clearly connotes a specific quality.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Think of "full" or "saturated" to remember that ~っぱい emphasizes abundance.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • The suffix ~っぱい indicates a high degree of the quality of the noun.
  • It is similar to but distinct from ~っぽい.
  • Used to express extreme or excess qualities.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. What does ~っぱい signify in a sentence?
  2. Compare ~っぱい with ~っぽい. What's a key difference?
  3. Create a sentence using 値段 (ねだん - price) with the suffix ~っぱい.

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