Japanese adjectives often take suffixes that modify their meaning, intensity, or nuance. These suffixes can indicate degree, emotion, comparison, or other contextual changes. Understanding them will help you express subtle nuances naturally.

1. ～すぎる (-sugiru) – Too Much, Excessive

This suffix is attached to the stem of adjectives and verbs to indicate excessiveness.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い, add すぎる
• な-adjectives → Add すぎる after the root

Conjugation Example:

💡 Note: This is always negative in nuance—"too much" is rarely a good thing!

2. ～がる (-garu) – Seems (Third-Person Emotions)

Used with い-adjective stems to describe how someone else appears to feel.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い, add がる
• な-adjectives → Not used

Conjugation Example:

• ～がる verbs behave like う-verbs, so conjugate them as verbs.

💡 Note: This is mainly used for emotions. It cannot be used for one's own feelings (e.g., 寒い for "I'm cold," not 寒がる).

3. ～め (-me) – Somewhat / A Bit

Adds a moderate or slightly different nuance. Used for comparisons or subjective impressions.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い, add め
• な-adjectives → Not used

🚫 No conjugation → Used as a noun.

💡 Note:

This is common in food, schedules, or subjective measurements.

4. ～っぽい (-ppoi) – Looks Like / Tends to

Expresses similarity or tendency. It can describe appearance, behavior, or characteristics.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い, add っぽい
• な-adjectives & nouns → Add っぽい directly

Conjugation Example:

• っぽい behaves like an い-adjective.

💡 Notes: 

• The nuance can be neutral (appearance) or negative (habitual behavior).

5. ～らしい (-rashii) – Typical of / Seems Like

Indicates stereotypical traits or what is expected of someone/something.

Attachment:

• Nouns → Add らしい
• い-adjectives & な-adjectives → Not used

Conjugation Example:

• らしい behaves like an い-adjective.

💡 Note: Unlike ～っぽい, this reinforces expectations rather than implying imitation.

6. ～的 (-teki) – In a ~ Way (Abstract Concepts)

Turns a noun into an adjective, often adding an academic or abstract feel.

Attachment:

• Attach directly to nouns.
• Forms な-adjectives, meaning they conjugate like 静か (shizuka).

Conjugation Example:

💡 Note: This is common in formal or intellectual contexts.

7. ～風 (-fū) – Style / In the Manner of

Indicates style, manner, or atmosphere. It emphasizes how something is done or perceived.

Attachment:

• Attach directly to nouns.
• Forms な-adjectives, meaning they conjugate like 静か (shizuka).

Conjugation Example:

💡 Note: Similar to ～っぽい, but ～風 is more about style rather than tendency.

8. ～気味 (-gimi) – Slightly / Somewhat (Negative Tone)

Adds a negative nuance, implying something isn’t extreme but noticeable.

Attachment:

• Attach to noun-like stems or certain verbs (root form).
• Forms な-adjectives, meaning they conjugate like 静か (shizuka).

Conjugation Example:

💡 Note: Mostly used for undesirable or negative states.

9. ～そう (-sou) – Seems / Looks Like

Indicates that something seems or looks a certain way, based on appearance.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い, add そう
• な-adjectives → Add そう after root

Conjugation Example:

💡 Note:

• Cannot be used for one's own feelings (e.g., 嬉しそう is fine for others, but not for yourself).
• Negative form: ～そうじゃない / ～そうではない (e.g., 美味しそうじゃない → "Doesn't look delicious").

10. ～み (-mi) – The Quality or Essence of ~

This suffix turns an adjective into a noun that expresses a tangible quality or state of being.

Attachment:

• Only attaches to a limited set of adjectives (usually subjective qualities).
• Turns them into nouns (does not conjugate like adjectives).

🚫 No conjugation → Used as a noun.

💡 Note:

This is less common than ～さ but is used when the quality is felt physically or emotionally.

11. ～さ (-sa) – Degree of ~ (Adjective → Noun)

This suffix transforms an adjective into a noun that describes measurable intensity or degree.

Attachment:

• Attach to い-adjective stems (drop い).
• Turns them into nouns (does not conjugate like adjectives).

🚫 No conjugation → Used as a noun.

💡 Comparison:

• ～み (e.g., 苦み) is more about subjective essence.
• ～さ (e.g., 苦さ) is more objective (e.g., measuring how bitter something is).

12. ～くする (-ku suru) – Make Something ~ (Causative Change)

This suffix is used with い-adjectives to indicate a change caused by an action.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い, add する
• な-adjectives → Add にする

🚫 No conjugation → Used as a noun.

💡 Usage:

• Often used in commands or suggestions (e.g., もっと静かにする → "Make it quieter").

13. ～になる (-ni naru) – Become ~ (Natural Change)

Used with な-adjectives and nouns to indicate a gradual, natural change.

Attachment:

• い-adjectives → Drop い → add くなる
• な-adjectives → Add になる

🚫 No conjugation → Used as a noun.

💡 Comparison:

• ～くする (causative) = Someone makes it happen (e.g., 速くする).
• ～になる (natural) = It happens naturally (e.g., 速くなる → "It became faster").