Translation guide
Expresses a tendency or likelihood, often with a negative nuance. Japanese uses various suffixes, adverbs, and patterns to convey that something is prone to happen or someone tends to do something.
The subject has a habit or inclination to do something, usually undesirable.
Attaches to the masu-stem of a verb to indicate a tendency, often negative. Can also attach to nouns.
彼は忘れがちだ。
He is apt to forget.
この天気は曇りがちだ。
This weather is apt to be cloudy.
A more formal or analytical way to say 'has a tendency to'. Used in written or formal contexts.
Something is prone to occur or is a common outcome.
Means 'easy to do' or 'apt to happen'. Focuses on the ease with which something occurs, often implying a natural tendency.
このガラスは割れやすい。
This glass is apt to break.
彼は風邪をひきやすい。
He is apt to catch colds.
がち implies a negative tendency and is often used for habits or recurring states. やすい indicates something happens easily or is prone to happen, without necessarily a negative connotation. 傾向がある is a neutral, formal expression for statistical or observed tendencies.
彼は遅刻しがちだ。
He tends to be late (bad habit).
このコップは割れやすい。
This cup breaks easily (physical property).
最近の学生は本を読まない傾向がある。
Recent students tend not to read books (observed trend).
Young people are apt to use their smartphones too much.
Indicates a bad tendency or habit, often used in criticism. More negative than 傾向がある.
彼は話を大げさにするきらいがある。
He is apt to exaggerate.
Means 'apt to', 'tend to', or 'be liable to'. Often used with conditional or potential forms.
ともすると、人は楽な方に流れがちだ。
People are apt to take the easy way out.
Similar to ともすると, meaning 'apt to' or 'liable to'. Slightly more literary.
ややもすれば、誤解を招く表現だ。
It's an expression that is apt to cause misunderstanding.
Recent students tend not to read books (observed trend).