Tendency and state
～がち
tends to; is apt to (usually something undesirable)
AI-written, reviewed by AI (ChatGPT)
How to form it
- Verb (ます-stem) + がち
- Noun + がち
Register: Neutral; common in writing
Explanation
Says that something happens easily or often, or that someone has a habit of doing it. It describes a repeated tendency.
Normally describes something negative or unwelcome. It is used as 〜がちだ, 〜がちな + noun, or 〜がちになる.
Examples
冬は風邪を引きがちだ。
ふゆはかぜをひきがちだ。
People tend to catch colds in winter.
彼女は遠慮しがちで、自分の意見をあまり言わない。
かのじょはえんりょしがちで、じぶんのいけんをあまりいわない。
She tends to hold back and doesn't voice her opinions much.
雨の日は家にこもりがちになる。
あめのひはいえにこもりがちになる。
On rainy days I tend to stay shut in at home.
Compare with
- ～かねない: かねない is about a possible bad result; がち is about a regular tendency.
Common mistakes
- Using it for positive tendencies. Prefer やすい or the like for neutral or good tendencies.