Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
がち describes a recurring undesirable state or behavior that happens often, like 遅れがちだ, focusing on frequency. きらいがある points to a deeper character or systemic tendency, often used in formal writing to critique a pattern, like 重視しなかったきらいがある. Swapping them sounds off: きらいがある feels too heavy for a watch running slow, while がち sounds too casual for discussing education policy.
- がち Use がち for everyday recurring negative tendencies in casual or neutral contexts.
- きらいがある Use きらいがある for formal or systemic tendencies, often in writing or critique.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| がち gachi | Tend to (negative) | N3 |
| きらいがある kiraigaaru | Tend to (have a tendency) | N1 |
がち gachi
Tend to (negative)
Tend to; be prone to; be apt to; be liable to; be subject to; often | A suffix to express an undesirable tendency in someone or something.
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この時計は最近 遅れがちだ。
This watch tends to run slow these days.
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この辺りは昼間留守がちの家が多い。
Around here many people are often away from their houses during the day. (literally: Around here there are many houses which residents are often away from during the day.)
きらいがある kiraigaaru
Tend to (have a tendency)
Have a tendency to; tend to; have a touch of ~; have a dash of ~; smack of ~; be slightly ~ | A phrase indicating that someone or something has an undesirable tendency.
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これまでの日本の高等教育は、アジアとの共生を重視じゅうししなかったきらいがある。
Japanese higher education so far has tended to not attach importance to Japan's coexistence with Asia.
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主婦は毎日の雑事に追われて、自分の体調管理がおろそかになるきらいがある。
Housewives have a tendency to neglect taking care of their own health because they are busy doing everyday chores.
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 — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.