立体的

• Reading: りったいてき
• Romaji: rittaiteki
• Kanji breakdown: 立 (ritsu) — stand, erect; 体 (tai) — body, form; 的 (teki) — -like, -istic
• Pronunciation: /ɾit.tai.te.ki/

Meaning

Three-dimensional; having depth and volume. Describes something that appears or is structured with spatial depth.

A na-adjective formed from 立体 (rittai, solid body) + 的 (teki, -like). While 立体 refers to actual 3D objects, 立体的 is broader and describes the quality of having dimensionality. Commonly used in art, design, and beauty contexts: 立体的な絵 (painting with depth), 立体的な顔立ち (well-defined facial features). The opposite is 平面的 (heimenteki, flat/two-dimensional).

Examples

1. 影をつけると絵が立体的に見える。 Adding shadows makes a drawing look three-dimensional.
2. 彼女は立体的な顔立ちで、写真映えがする。 She has well-defined facial features that look great in photos.
3. このデザインは立体的な表現が特徴だ。 This design is characterized by its three-dimensional expression.

Usage Guide

Context: art, design, beauty

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 立 (ritsu, stand) + 体 (tai, body) + 的 (teki, adjective suffix). Literally 'of a standing-body nature' — possessing three-dimensional qualities.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal