的 — “target / -ical” in Japanese

Grade 4てき, まと

Radical ⽩ · radical 106 The building block this kanji is filed under

“target / -ical” in Japanese is 的, read teki, mato (てき, まと). It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 目的 (purpose).

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What does 的 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	的
Meaning	target / -ical
Readings	てき, まと
Grade	Grade 4 (Upper)
Curriculum	Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school
Example	目的 (purpose)

How to read 的

的 is read teki (てき) or mato (まと) depending on the word.

Words with 的

目的もくてき
記録的きろくてき
歴史的れきしてき
伝統的でんとうてき
本格的ほんかくてき
計画的けいかくてき
目的地もくてきち
代表的だいひょうてき
根本的こんぽんてき

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Kanji read the same way as 的

Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:

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Updated: 2026-08-28