〜らしい (typical of)
rashii (typical of)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
typical of… / -like / true to… (shows the ideal qualities of the noun)
Noun + らしい says something is a perfect example of what that noun should be: 男らしい "manly", 春らしい "spring-like", 学生らしい "like a proper student". It is a compliment or a neutral description, never a criticism. Note that this is a different word from the hearsay らしい ("I hear that…").
Everyday speech and writing when describing character, weather, behaviour or design that matches expectations: 彼らしい答え "a very him kind of answer". It conjugates like an い-adjective: らしくない, らしく, らしかった.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + らしい (sentence end or before a noun)Noun + らしく + verb / adjective (adverb form)Negative: Noun + らしくないNoun + らしい + Noun (彼らしい答え)
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Meaning | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 子供らしい | childlike, as a child should be | positive / neutral | 子供らしい笑顔 (an innocent, childlike smile) |
| 子供っぽい | childish, immature | negative | 大人なのに子供っぽい (an adult who acts childish) |
| 子供みたい | like a child (comparison) | neutral | 子供みたいに喜ぶ (be delighted like a child) |
Natural examples
彼は本当に男らしい。
かれはほんとうにおとこらしい。
He is really manly.
Compliment: he has the qualities expected of a man.
今日は春らしい暖かい日だ。
きょうははるらしいあたたかいひだ。
Today is a warm, spring-like day.
らしい modifies 日 through 暖かい; the weather matches spring.
学生らしく、もっと勉強しなさい。
がくせいらしく、もっとべんきょうしなさい。
Study more, like a proper student.
らしく = adverb form: 'in the manner a student should'.
遅刻するなんて、彼らしくないね。
ちこくするなんて、かれらしくないね。
Being late is not like him at all.
らしくない = does not match what we expect of that person.
この店は和風の建物で、いかにも京都らしい。
このみせはわふうのたてもので、いかにもきょうとらしい。
This shop is in a Japanese-style building, very typical of Kyoto.
いかにも〜らしい is a common set: 'just what you'd expect of…'.
Similar grammar and the difference
'-ish', often critical (子供っぽい = childish). らしい is approving. Compare side by side
Comparison: 'like a child' even though not a child. らしい says the person is that thing and shows it well. Compare side by side
〜らしい (hearsay)
'I hear / it seems'. Attaches to verbs and clauses too, and expresses uncertainty rather than typicality.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 彼は大人なのに子供らしい。(meaning 'he is childish')
- ✓
- 彼は大人なのに子供っぽい。
- Why
- らしい is positive: 'childlike, as a child should be'. For a criticism of immaturity use っぽい.
- ✗
- 学生らしいに勉強しなさい。
- ✓
- 学生らしく勉強しなさい。
- Why
- らしい conjugates like an い-adjective; the adverb form is らしく.
- ✗
- 田中さんは休むらしい。(intending 'typical of Tanaka')
- ✓
- 休むなんて田中さんらしくない。/ 田中さんは休むらしい (= I hear he'll be absent).
- Why
- Verb + らしい is always hearsay. The 'typical of' meaning only follows a noun.
Set phrases: 自分らしく生きる 'live true to yourself', 〜らしさ 'the quality of being…' (人間らしさ). It can follow the same noun twice for emphasis: 春らしい春 'a truly spring-like spring'. らしい after a person's name or 彼 / 彼女 means 'just like him/her'.
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- If the word before the blank is a noun and the sentence praises or describes typical qualities, choose らしい over っぽい.
- If the same sentence has a clue like いかにも or 〜らしくない, the typicality らしい is meant, not hearsay.
- In conjugation questions, remember らしく (adverb) and らしくない (negative).
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜らしい (typical of) mean?
typical of… / -like / true to… (shows the ideal qualities of the noun). Noun + らしい says something is a perfect example of what that noun should be: 男らしい "manly", 春らしい "spring-like", 学生らしい "like a proper student". It is a compliment or a neutral description, never a criticism. Note that this is a different word from the hearsay らしい ("I hear that…").
How do you form 〜らしい (typical of)?
Noun + らしい (sentence end or before a noun) / Noun + らしく + verb / adjective (adverb form) / Negative: Noun + らしくない / Noun + らしい + Noun (彼らしい答え). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜らしい (typical of) used?
Everyday speech and writing when describing character, weather, behaviour or design that matches expectations: 彼らしい答え "a very him kind of answer". It conjugates like an い-adjective: らしくない, らしく, らしかった.
What is the difference between 〜らしい (typical of) and 〜っぽい?
'-ish', often critical (子供っぽい = childish). らしい is approving.
What is the difference between 〜らしい (typical of) and 〜みたいだ / 〜のようだ?
Comparison: 'like a child' even though not a child. らしい says the person is that thing and shows it well.
What is a common mistake with 〜らしい (typical of)?
Wrong: 彼は大人なのに子供らしい。(meaning 'he is childish') Right: 彼は大人なのに子供っぽい。 らしい is positive: 'childlike, as a child should be'. For a criticism of immaturity use っぽい.
Quick check
今日は久しぶりに秋（ ）さわやかな天気だ。