How to tell them apart
がち describes a frequent undesirable state, like 曇りがちだ, focusing on how often it happens. きらいがある points to an ingrained tendency or bias, often in formal critique, like 外見で判断するきらいがある. Swapping them sounds off: きらいがある is too heavy for weather, while がち is too light for criticizing a systemic bias.
- がち Use がち to describe everyday recurring negative states in neutral or casual contexts.
- きらいがある Use きらいがある to point out an ingrained tendency in formal writing or critique.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| がち gachi | has a tendency to (do something undesirable) | N3 |
| きらいがある kiraigaaru | Have a tendency to, tend to | N1 |
がち gachi
has a tendency to (do something undesirable)
がち describes a bad or unwanted tendency or habit, like being late or getting angry easily. It attaches to the masu-stem of a verb, as in 遅刻しがちだ, and to some nouns, as in 病気がちだ. As a na-adjective, it becomes がちだ, がちな, or がちの before nouns. It should not be used for positive or neutral habits.
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人は悪い事に目を向けがちだと思います。
I believe that people tend to focus on the bad.
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彼はなまけがちである。
He tends to be idle.
きらいがある kiraigaaru
Have a tendency to, tend to
きらいがある expresses that a person has a tendency toward a certain behavior or attitude, often one the speaker views as excessive or undesirable. It follows the dictionary form or the ない form of a verb, as in 読まないきらいがある, and follows a noun with の, as in 行き過ぎのきらいがある. It is used to point out a repeated habit critically and is not suited to praising good habits or describing a one time action.
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彼は何でもないようなことで怒り出すきらいがある。
He tends to get upset over nothing.
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彼は物事を悲観的に考えすぎるきらいがある。
He has a tendency to think about things too pessimistically.
がち and きらいがある are JLPT N3–N1 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.