N1 has four suffixes that attach to nouns or adjectives to create new expressions. They express "moment," "impression," "atmosphere," and "pretense."
ぎわ: At the Moment of…
「ぎわ」expresses the precise moment an action is about to happen or just happened:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 彼らが帰りぎわに、主任から電話がかかってきた。 | Just as they were about to leave, the supervisor called. |
| 別れぎわに彼女は涙を見せた。 | At the moment of parting, she showed tears. |
| 引きぎわが大事だ。 | Knowing when to quit is important. |
Connection: Verb ます-stem + ぎわ / Noun + ぎわ 際 = edge, moment → the tipping point when an action occurs.
Key Points
- Expresses the turning point moment of an action
- Common combinations: 帰りぎわ, 別れぎわ, 引きぎわ
- Similar to とき but emphasizes that exact instant
げ: Looking Like… / Seeming…
「げ」expresses the impression something gives from external observation:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| あの犬はいつも悲しげに鳴いている。 | That dog always whines as if sad. |
| 彼は自信ありげに答えた。 | He answered with an air of confidence. |
| 彼女は楽しげに歌っている。 | She's singing as if having a great time. |
Connection: い-adj (drop い) + げ / な-adj stem + げ / Verb ます-stem + たげ Becomes a な-adjective; add に to make it an adverb.
Key Points
- Expresses an externally observed impression, not necessarily fact
- 悲しげ = looks sad (but may not actually be)
- Add に for adverb: 悲しげに鳴く
めく: Having an Air of… / -esque
「めく」expresses carrying a certain atmosphere or quality:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| あの宗教団体は何か秘密めいた雰囲気を漂わせている。 | That religious group gives off a mysterious, secretive air. |
| 春めいてきた。 | It's starting to feel like spring. |
| 彼の言葉は皮肉めいて聞こえた。 | His words sounded tinged with sarcasm. |
Connection: Noun + めく → becomes a godan verb (conjugates: めく, めいた, めいて) Common fixed expressions: 春めく, 秘密めく, 皮肉めく, 謎めく
Key Points
- Becomes a verb (can use た-form, て-form, etc.)
- Means "having a quality of" rather than "definitely being"
- Often used in literary descriptions
ぶる: Pretending to Be…
「ぶる」expresses deliberately putting on airs or pretending to be something, with a negative connotation:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| プロぶっている彼のことが大嫌いだ。 | I hate how he pretends to be a professional. |
| 知ったかぶりをするな。 | Don't pretend you know. |
| 大人ぶっても、まだ子供じゃないか。 | Even if you act like an adult, you're still a kid, aren't you? |
Connection: Noun + ぶる → becomes a godan verb (conjugates: ぶる, ぶった, ぶって) Common: 大人ぶる, 偉ぶる, 知ったかぶり
Key Points
- Negative connotation — criticizing someone for faking
- Becomes a verb with normal conjugation
- 知ったかぶり = pretending to know (noun form, extremely common)
Comparison
| Suffix | Meaning | Word Class | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| ぎわ | At the moment of | → Noun | Neutral |
| げ | Looking like / seeming | → な-adjective | External observation |
| めく | Having an air of | → Godan verb | Literary |
| ぶる | Pretending to be | → Godan verb | Negative |
Summary
- 「ぎわ」= The turning point moment (帰りぎわ, 別れぎわ)
- 「げ」= Externally observed impression (悲しげ, 楽しげ)
- 「めく」= Carrying a certain atmosphere (春めく, 秘密めく)
- 「ぶる」= Deliberately pretending (プロぶる, 大人ぶる)
Self-Check
1. What does げ mean in 「悲しげに鳴いている」?
Show Answer
"Looking like…" — whining as if sad. げ expresses an externally observed impression; add に for adverb use.
2. Is 「プロぶっている」 positive or negative?
Show Answer
Negative — "pretending to be a professional." ぶる expresses deliberate pretense, with a critical tone.
3. What does 「春めいてきた」 mean?
Show Answer
"It's starting to feel like spring." めく = having an air of → 春めく = having a spring-like quality.