1.
cheap-looking, tacky, cheesy
Describes something that looks or feels low-quality or inexpensive, regardless of actual price. Carries a negative, disparaging nuance. Can also describe behavior, words, or emotions that seem shallow or insincere.
安っぽいアクセサリーだ。
That's a cheap-looking accessory.
この映画のセットは安っぽく見える。
The set of this movie looks tacky.
安っぽい言葉で人を感動させることはできない。
You can't move people with cheap words.
USAGE:
Unlike 安い, which simply means "inexpensive," 安っぽい is always negative and focuses on appearance or quality rather than actual price. An expensive item can be described as 安っぽい if it looks cheap. The suffix っぽい adds the meaning "having the quality of" or "-ish."
CONJUGATION:
Regular い-adjective.
- Negative: 安っぽくない
- Past: 安っぽかった
- Adverbial: 安っぽく
- Te-form: 安っぽくて
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 安っぽい作り: cheap construction
- 安っぽく見える: to look cheap
- 安っぽい感じ: a cheap feel/impression