代表的な correct meaning


In my work book 代表的 has a few meanings, typical and representative. So when
you say 代表的な人 does this mean a typical person or representative person? Surely
having both these meanings for this word must be very confusing?




代表的 is a na-adjective that means "representative" in the sense of "most
significant and typically represents the characteristics of an idea/group".

  * 『ひまわり』はゴッホの代表的な作品です。  
_Sunflowers_ is a representative work by Gogh.

  * 古代ギリシャの哲学者として代表的な人を3人挙げてください。  
Name three representative people who are philosophers of the ancient Greek.

典型的 ("typical") is a similar word, but 代表的 takes into account the
importance/significance of the modified thing among the group. You can say
僕の妹は典型的なケチだ ("My sister is a typical miser") but not 僕の妹は代表的なケチだ unless your
sister is nationally known as a typical miser.

"Representative" as a noun that refers to a person is 代表者.

  * 私は我が社の代表者です。  
He is a representative of our company.




代表的 is a na-adjective that means "representative" in the sense of "most
significant and typically represents the characteristics of an idea/group".

  * 『ひまわり』はゴッホの代表的な作品です。  
_Sunflowers_ is a representative work by Gogh.

  * 古代ギリシャの哲学者として代表的な人を3人挙げてください。  
Name three representative people who are philosophers of the ancient Greek.

典型的 ("typical") is a similar word, but 代表的 takes into account the
importance/significance of the modified thing among the group. You can say
僕の妹は典型的なケチだ ("My sister is a typical miser") but not 僕の妹は代表的なケチだ unless your
sister is nationally known as a typical miser.

"Representative" as a noun that refers to a person is 代表者.

  * 私は我が社の代表者です。  
He is a representative of our company.

