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I think 優しげ is a な adjective. Whereas 優しい is an い adjective. When I look up
their meanings, their English translation is essentially kind/gentle, and they
seem to be both adjectives modifying something in a clause. Is there a usage
difference between them?
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2016-04-26T07:03:35.830
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2016-05-27T18:24:15.843
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question
meaning usage
Is there a functional difference between 優しげ vs 優しい?
I would say 優しげ means "seemingly kind/gentle" and 優しい means "kind/gentle".
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2016-04-27T02:37:55.953
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2016-04-27T02:37:55.953
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げ is a suffix to adjective to mean "like" as in "優しげ”、”悲しげ”、"喜ばしげ,"
"勇ましげ”、”得意気.” It's originally used to connote "a tint" of something.

Adjective + げ can be used as an adjective like, "優しげな表情 - affectionate
expression”, ”悲しげな声 - sorrowful tone”, "喜ばしげな態度 - joyful manner," "勇ましげな顔 -
valiant look”, ”得意気な顔 - triumphant face,” as well as a verb, "優しげに撫でる - stroke
lovingly," ”悲しげに弾く - play sorrowfully”, "喜ばしげに話す - talk joyfully," "勇ましげに歩く -
march bravely”, ”得意気に話す - speak proudly.”

The difference between "優しい言葉" and "優しげな言葉" is subtle. "優しい言葉" is plain gentle
/ kind words, while "優しげな言葉" is "words that are felt gentle / kind," keeping a
sort of reservation. However both are saying the same thing.
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2016-05-27T07:53:23.793
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2016-05-27T18:24:15.843
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