的 means “target, -ic”

てき · teki

Also: bull's eye, mark, object

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

まと

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

テキ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

White (白) beside a ladle (勺): picture a bright target, the mark still called 的 in kyudo archery. 目的 is the goal you aim for, and stuck on a noun 的 works like "-ic": 基本的 is basic, 具体的 is specific.

Used in 目的 (mokuteki, purpose), 基本的 (kihonteki, basic), and 具体的 (gutaiteki, specific/concrete)

More from Cause & Reason

• 要 need
• 直 straight
• 果 fruit
• 必 certain
• 無 nothing
• 常 usual
• 由 reason
• 例 example
• 然 so
• 限 limit
• 非 not
• 完 complete

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.