〜げ: meaning and usage

How to form it

• い-adjective stem (without い)+げ
• な-adjective (stem)+げ
• verb (masu-stem)+たげ

How it is used

Attached to adjective stems and the like, it describes how someone appears to feel: 「寂しげ」 (lonely-looking), 「楽しげ」, 「言いたげ」 (as if wanting to say something). More literary than 「〜そう」, and mostly used about others.

Examples

1. 彼は寂しげに言った。「僕と彼女は終わりかも知れない。」

   He spoke as if he was lonely: "My girlfriend and I might be finished."

2. 子どもたちが、公園で楽しげに遊んでいる。

   The children are playing happily in the park.

3. 彼女は何か言いたげな顔でこちらを見ていた。

   She was looking our way as if she wanted to say something.