Typical.

Hey everyone, today we'll look at a casual usage of the word typical. This is an adjective that means regular, usual, standard, average, etc. It basically means that something matches a particular group or type.

A: What do you do on a typical day at work?

B: I prepare lessons, talk to students and teach classes.

It can be used as the adverb typically.

Typically Japanese houses are rebuilt every 30 years.

Now the usage of typical I want to look at today is casual English. It acts as a kind of negative さすが. It's used when someone does something wrong or bad but that person often does that kind of thing. So it's their typical behavior.

She cancelled your date at the last minute again? Typical.

Student: I forgot to do my homework.

Teacher: Typical. You'll have to stay after school today.

You're husband was out late with co-workers, that's so typical of him!

As you can see it is regularly, or typically, used as a one wonder answer when someone shares information.

Kenta: The JR Tokaido line is delayed again today.

Yuko: Typical.


Gerry: My boss was in a bad mood again today.

Sam: Typical.

Gerry: Yeah, I think his wife yelled at him again for coming home so late.

You can find the Japanese definition on weblio here. The examples we've been looking at are under 2b:

【叙述的用法の形容詞】 〔+of+(代)名〕〔…の〕特徴を示して.

用例

It's typical of him to forget to bring a present. プレゼントを持ってくるのを忘れるとはいかにも彼らしい.

But as I said, when used in this way it is generally, or typically, used to describe a NEGATIVE behavior.

Have a nice week,

Phil